Lewis & Short

1. compărātĭo (conp-), ōnis, f. [1. comparo], a comparing, comparison (in good prose).

  1. I. In gen.: comparationis duo sunt modi; unus cum idemne sit an aliquid intersit quaeritur: alter, cum quid praestet aliud alii quaeritur, Cic. de Or. 3, 29, 117; cf. id. ib. § 116: potest incidere saepe contentio et comparatio, de duobus honestis utrum honestius, id. Off. 1, 43, 152: majorum, minorum, parium, id. Top. 18, 71: orationis suae cum scriptis alienis, id. de Or. 1, 60, 257: rerum, Quint. 2, 4, 24: argumentorum, id. 5, 13, 57: in comparatione alicujus (post-Aug.): strata erant itinera vilioribus sarcinis, quas in conparatione meliorum avaritia contempserat, Curt. 3, 11, 20 Vogel ad loc.; so, ex conparatione regis novi, desiderium excitabatur amissi, id. 10, 8, 9; cf. Lact. 7, 15, 7.
  2. II. Esp.
    1. A. A trial of skill, contention: in comparationem se demittere, Suet. Rhet. 6.
    2. B. A relation, comparison: cum solis et lunae et quinque errantium ad eandem inter se comparationem est facta conversio, Cic. N. D. 2, 20, 51.
    3. C. Translation of the Gr. ἀναλογία, Cic. Univ. 4 fin.; 5; 7.
    4. * D. An agreement, contract (v. 1. comparo, II. B.): provincia sine sorte, sine comparatione, extra ordinem data, Liv. 6, 30, 3.
    5. E. Of animals, a coupling, pairing: boum, Col. 6, 2, 13.
  3. F. In rhet.: criminis, a defensive comparison of a crime with a good deed, on account of which the crime was committed, Cic. Inv. 1, 11, 15; 2, 24, 72; Auct. Her. 1, 14, 24; 1, 15, 25.
  4. G. In gram.
      1. 1. A climax, Don. p. 1745 P.
      2. 2. The comparative degree, Quint. 1, 5, 45.