A·nat·o·my n.; pl. Anatomies
 1. The art of dissecting, or artificially separating the different parts of any organized body, to discover their situation, structure, and economy; dissection.
 2. The science which treats of the structure of organic bodies; anatomical structure or organization.
    Let the muscles be well inserted and bound together, according to the knowledge of them which is given us by anatomy.   --Dryden.
 Note: ☞ “Animal anatomy” is sometimes called zomy; “vegetable anatomy,” phytotomy; “human anatomy,” anthropotomy.
 Comparative anatomy compares the structure of different kinds and classes of animals.
 3. A treatise or book on anatomy.
 4. The act of dividing anything, corporeal or intellectual, for the purpose of examining its parts; analysis; as, the anatomy of a discourse.
 5. A skeleton; anything anatomized or dissected, or which has the appearance of being so.
    The anatomy of a little child, representing all parts thereof, is accounted a greater rarity than the skeleton of a man in full stature.   --Fuller.
 They brought one Pinch, a hungry, lean-faced villain,
 A mere anatomy.   --Shak.

 ◄ ►


 Com·par·a·tive a.
 1. Of or pertaining to comparison. “The comparative faculty.”
 2. Proceeding from, or by the method of, comparison; as, the comparative sciences; the comparative anatomy.
 3. Estimated by comparison; relative; not positive or absolute, as compared with another thing or state.
    The recurrence of comparative warmth and cold.   --Whewell.
    The bubble, by reason of its comparative levity to the fluid that incloses it, would necessarily ascend to the top.   --Bentley.
 4. Gram. Expressing a degree greater or less than the positive degree of the quality denoted by an adjective or adverb. The comparative degree is formed from the positive by the use of -er, more, or less; as, brighter, more bright, or less bright.
 Comparative sciences, those which are based on a comprehensive comparison of the range of objects or facts in any branch or department, and which aim to study out and treat of the fundamental laws or systems of relation pervading them; as, comparative anatomy, comparative physiology, comparative philology.


 comparative anatomy
      n : the study of anatomical features of animals of different
          species