RELATIVE • E-FREE TRANSLATION.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

... in a tone of deep affection. "You see what it is to surrender oneself to the absolute. If you are so healthy and reasonable it's because you regard almost everything from the relative point of view, and only ask life for such gifts as it can bestow. But when your absolute ideas of justice come upon you, you lose both equilibrium and reason. At the same time, I must say that we are all liable to err in ...

— The Three Cities Trilogy, Complete - Lourdes, Rome and Paris • Emile Zola

... me to mention a few particulars relative to the greatest of all our undertakings in building, viz., that of a new town of some 200 houses. It was hardly to be expected that the plan of our village and the first houses erected at Metlakahtla would prove satisfactory to us as we advanced in ...

— Metlakahtla and the North Pacific Mission • Eugene Stock

... criminal authorities, instead of simply applying the law placed itself above it and with its so-called equity undermined the legal institutions; one consequence of which among others was the irrational principle, that any one, whom a relative had passed over in his testament, was at liberty to propose that the testament should be annulled by the court, and the court decided ...

— The History of Rome (Volumes 1-5) • Theodor Mommsen

... the general assembly of the Chapter, according to the usage and custom of that church, and appointed to pursue afresh the trial of the demon Succubus, at present in the jail of the Chapter, have ordered a new inquest, at which will be heard all those of this diocese having cognisance of the facts relative thereto. We declared void the other proceedings, interrogations, and decrees, and annul them in the name of the members of the Church in general, and sovereign Chapter assembled, and declare that the appeal to God, traitorously made by the demon, shall not take place, in ...

— Droll Stories, Complete - Collected From The Abbeys Of Touraine • Honore de Balzac

... we treated him, and which we openly published, that he extricated us himself from our difficulty. We had only to supplicate the Duc de Gesvres in the cause (he said to some of our people), and we should obtain what we wanted; for the Duc de Gesvres was his relative. We took him at his word. The, Duc de Gesvres received in two days a summons on our part. Harlay, annoyed with himself for the advice he had given, relented of it: but it was too late; he was declared unable to judge the cause, and the ...

— Marguerite de Navarre - Memoirs of Marguerite de Valois Queen of Navarre • Marguerite de Navarre

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