incomparable

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English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Middle English incomparable, from Middle French incomparable, from Old French [Term?], from Latin incomparābilis. Equivalent to in- +‎ comparable.

Pronunciation[edit]

Adjective[edit]

incomparable (comparative more incomparable, superlative most incomparable)

  1. So much better than another as to be beyond comparison; matchless or unsurpassed.
    • c. 1905, Oscar Wilde, De Profundis, (1909), Robert Baldwin Ross, ed., page 112:
      I know of nothing in all drama more incomparable from the point of view of art, nothing more suggestive in its subtlety of observation, than Shakespeare's drawing of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.
  2. (rare) Not able to be compared.

Usage notes[edit]

  • Using more or most with incomparable, though often disapproved, is relatively common. Such uses may once have only been accepted for poetic effect, but are now widespread.
  • Despite its apparently absolute meaning, incomparable is often used as if there were degrees of incomparability, occurring with adverbs such as so and very.

Derived terms[edit]

Related terms[edit]

Translations[edit]

Noun[edit]

incomparable (plural incomparables)

  1. Something beyond compare; a thing with which there is no comparison.

Further reading[edit]

Catalan[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Latin incomparābilis.

Pronunciation[edit]

Adjective[edit]

incomparable m or f (masculine and feminine plural incomparables)

  1. uncomparable, incomparable
    Antonym: comparable

Derived terms[edit]

Further reading[edit]

French[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Latin incomparābilis.

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): /ɛ̃.kɔ̃.pa.ʁabl/

Adjective[edit]

incomparable (plural incomparables)

  1. incomparable; uncomparable
    Antonym: comparable

Derived terms[edit]

Further reading[edit]

Occitan[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Latin incomparābilis.

Adjective[edit]

incomparable m (feminine singular incomparabla, masculine plural incomparables, feminine plural incomparablas)

  1. uncomparable, incomparable
    Antonym: comparable

Further reading[edit]

Spanish[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Latin incomparābilis.

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): /inkompaˈɾable/ [ĩŋ.kõm.paˈɾa.β̞le]
  • Rhymes: -able
  • Syllabification: in‧com‧pa‧ra‧ble

Adjective[edit]

incomparable (plural incomparables)

  1. uncomparable
    Antonym: comparable

Derived terms[edit]

Further reading[edit]