156. There are some descriptive words whose meaning is such as not
to admit of comparison; for example,--

His company became very agreeable to the brave old professor of
arms, whose _favorite_ pupil he was.--THACKERAY.

A _main_ difference betwixt men is, whether they attend their own
affair or not.--EMERSON

It was his business to administer the law in its _final_ and
closest application to the offender--HAWTHORNE.

Freedom is a _perpetual, organic, universal_ institution, in
harmony with the Constitution of the United States.--SEWARD.

So with the words _sole_, _sufficient_, _infinite_, _immemorial_,
_indefatigable_, _indomitable_, _supreme_, and many others.

It is true that words of comparison are sometimes prefixed to them,
but, strictly considered, they are not compared.


[Sidenote: _Definition._]

157. Comparison means the changes that words undergo to express
degrees in quality, or amounts in quantity.

[Sidenote: _The two forms._]