RELATIVE • DICCIONARIO INGLES.COM • Definition of Relative

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/rˈɛlətɪv/ Listen

adjective

Relative adj.

Having relation or reference; referring; respecting; standing in connection; pertaining; as, arguments not relative to the subject. "I'll have grounds More relative than this."

Arising from relation; resulting from connection with, or reference to, something else; not absolute. "Every thing sustains both an absolute and a relative capacity: an absolute, as it is such a thing, endued with such a nature; and a relative, as it is a part of the universe, and so stands in such a relations to the whole."

(Gram.) Indicating or expressing relation; refering to an antecedent; as, a relative pronoun.

(Mus.) Characterizing or pertaining to chords and keys, which, by reason of the identify of some of their tones, admit of a natural transition from one to the other.

Relative clause (Gram.), a clause introduced by a relative pronoun.

Relative term, a term which implies relation to, as guardian to ward, matter to servant, husband to wife. Cf. Correlative.

noun

Relative n. One who, or that which, relates to, or is considered in its relation to, something else; a relative object or term; one of two object or term; one of two objects directly connected by any relation. Specifically:

(a)

A person connected by blood or affinity; strictly, one allied by blood; a relation; a kinsman or kinswoman. "Confining our care... to ourselves and relatives."

(b)

(Gram.) A relative pronoun; a word which relates to, or represents, another word or phrase, called its antecedent; as, the relatives "who", "which", "that".

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Etymology of 'Relative'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Relative" Quotes from Famous Books

... a relative of his happened to likewise come on that very night to their house and to only leave after he had dinner with them, and at an hour of the day when the lamps had already been lit; but he had still to wait until his grandfather ...

— Hung Lou Meng, Book I • Cao Xueqin

... of a dispatch of the minister of the United States accredited to the Mexican Government to the Secretary of State, relative ...

— A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents - Section 4 (of 4) of Volume 5: James Buchanan • James D. Richardson

... at such a time, filled Elinor with respect and gratitude, but she did not love him; and, trembling and irresolute, she knew not how to act. She had but one relative—an uncle, in India—who had never written to her mother since her father died upon the scaffold. Whether this uncle was still living, was married, or single, she could not ascertain. To him, therefore, it was useless to apply. She had no home—she was at present dependent upon the bounty of a stranger, ...

— Mark Hurdlestone - Or, The Two Brothers • Susanna Moodie

... a few passages relative to the police and the fiscal laws of those days, and when time permits, will transcribe them for you, if you deem them worthy of being laid before ...

— Notes & Queries, No. 37. Saturday, July 13, 1850 • Various

... of conditions in the early spring of 1915. Although the relative positions of the three armies are the same, the British are holding a considerably ...

— Kings, Queens And Pawns - An American Woman at the Front • Mary Roberts Rinehart

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