incomparable
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
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ɪŋˈkɒmp(ə)rəbəl/, /ɪŋkəmˈpærəbəl/
Audio (Southern England) (file) - (General American) IPA(key): /ɪŋˈkɑmp(ə)rəbəl/, /ɪŋkəmˈpɛrəbəl/
Adjective edit
incomparable (comparative more incomparable, superlative most incomparable)
- So much better than another as to be beyond comparison.
- Synonyms: matchless, unsurpassed
- c. 1905, Oscar Wilde, edited by Robert Baldwin Ross, De Profundis, published 1909, 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.
- (rare) Not able to be compared.
- Synonyms: noncomparable, uncomparable
- Antonym: comparable
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
Translations edit
beyond comparison
|
not able to be compared — see uncomparable
See also edit
Noun edit
incomparable (plural incomparables)
- Something beyond compare; a thing with which there is no comparison.
Further reading edit
- “incomparable”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
- “incomparable”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.
- “incomparable”, in The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th edition, Boston, Mass.: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016, →ISBN.
- “incomparable”, in Collins English Dictionary.
- incomparable, uncomparable, noncomparable at Google Ngram Viewer
Catalan edit
Etymology edit
From Latin incomparābilis.
Pronunciation edit
- (Balearic) IPA(key): /in.kom.pəˈɾa.blə/
- (Central) IPA(key): /in.kum.pəˈɾa.blə/
- (Valencian) IPA(key): /in.kom.paˈɾa.ble/
Adjective edit
incomparable m or f (masculine and feminine plural incomparables)
- uncomparable, incomparable
- Antonym: comparable
Derived terms edit
Further reading edit
- “incomparable” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.
- “incomparable”, in Gran Diccionari de la Llengua Catalana, Grup Enciclopèdia Catalana, 2023
- “incomparable” in Diccionari normatiu valencià, Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua.
- “incomparable” in Diccionari català-valencià-balear, Antoni Maria Alcover and Francesc de Borja Moll, 1962.
French edit
Etymology edit
From Latin incomparābilis.
Pronunciation edit
Adjective edit
incomparable (plural incomparables)
- incomparable; uncomparable
- Antonym: comparable
Derived terms edit
Further reading edit
- “incomparable”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.
Occitan edit
Etymology edit
From Latin incomparābilis.
Adjective edit
incomparable m (feminine singular incomparabla, masculine plural incomparables, feminine plural incomparablas)
- uncomparable, incomparable
- Antonym: comparable
Further reading edit
- Joan de Cantalausa (2006) Diccionari general occitan a partir dels parlars lengadocians[1], 2 edition, →ISBN, page 560.
- Diccionari General de la Lenga Occitana, L’Academia occitana – Consistòri del Gai Saber, 2008-2016, page 338.
Spanish edit
Etymology edit
From Latin incomparābilis.
Pronunciation edit
Adjective edit
incomparable m or f (masculine and feminine plural incomparables)
- uncomparable
- Antonym: comparable
Derived terms edit
Further reading edit
- “incomparable”, in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014