Wordwyrt

compare

/kəmˈpeə/kuhm-PUH
/kəmˈpɛɹ/kuhm-PER

Meaningto match as equals

Common meaning: to look at likeness and difference

‘with, together’ + ‘equal, evenly matched’ → compare

Journey through time

  1. Latinpār, paris‘equal, evenly matched’
  2. Frenchcomparer
  3. Englishcompare‘to look at likeness and difference’ · today

com- also in: compelcombustcomfortcommandcommend

par also in: paritypairpeerumpirejeopardy

Sources & notes

Meaning: “Meaning” is the sense that emerges from the word’s roots; “Common meaning” is today’s everyday sense. Both written by us.

Pronunciation

  • UK IPA: converted from the US form by rule (unchecked). Respelling: generated.
  • No UK recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-GB voice.
  • US IPA: CMUdict (BSD-2), converted to IPA by rule. Respelling: generated.
  • No US recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-US voice.

Origin: Built on Latin pār ‘equal, evenly matched’.

Did you know: our wording, based on Lewis & Short, Latin Dictionary (1879), entry pār, p. 1300 · dictionary scan

Roots

Related words

jeopardypairparitypeerumpire

Building blocks are an automatic split · open in app