relative

relative
/rel"euh tiv/, n.
1. a person who is connected with another or others by blood or marriage.
2. something having, or standing in, some relation to something else.
3. something dependent upon external conditions for its specific nature, size, etc. (opposed to absolute).
4. Gram. a relative pronoun, adjective, or adverb.
adj.
5. considered in relation to something else; comparative: the relative merits of democracy and monarchy.
6. existing or having its specific nature only by relation to something else; not absolute or independent: Happiness is relative.
7. having relation or connection.
8. having reference or regard; relevant; pertinent (usually fol. by to): to determine the facts relative to an accident.
9. correspondent; proportionate: Value is relative to demand.
10. (of a term, name, etc.) depending for significance upon something else: "Better" is a relative term.
11. Gram.
a. noting or pertaining to a word that introduces a subordinate clause of which it is, or is a part of, the subject or predicate and that refers to an expressed or implied element of the principal clause (the antecedent), as the relative pronoun who in He's the man who saw you or the relative adverb where in This is the house where she was born.
b. noting or pertaining to a relative clause.
[1350-1400; ME relatif (n.) ( < MF) < LL relativus (adj.); see RELATE, -IVE]
Usage. 11. See who.

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  • relative — rel‧a‧tive [ˈrelətɪv] adjective having a particular value or quality when compared with similar things: • the relative strength of the dollar • IBM was a relative latecomer to the laptop market. relatively adverb : • The system is relatively easy …   Financial and business terms

  • relative — rel·a·tive adj 1: not absolute 2 in the civil law of Louisiana: having or allowing some legal effect a relative impediment a relative simulation see also relative nullity at nullity …   Law dictionary

  • Relative — Rel a*tive (r?l ? t?v), a. [F. relatif, L. relativus. See {Relate}.] 1. Having relation or reference; referring; respecting; standing in connection; pertaining; as, arguments not relative to the subject. [1913 Webster] I ll have grounds More… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • relative — [rel′ə tiv] adj. [< MFr or L: MFr relatif < L relativus < L relatus: see RELATE] 1. related each to the other; dependent upon or referring to each other [to stay in the same relative positions] 2. having to do with; pertinent; relevant… …   English World dictionary

  • relative — ● relative nom féminin Proposition relative. ● relatif, relative adjectif (latin médiéval relativus, du latin classique relatum, de referre, rapporter) Qui se rapporte à quelqu un, à quelque chose, qui les concerne : Les questions relatives à l… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • relative — ► ADJECTIVE 1) considered in relation or in proportion to something else. 2) existing or possessing a characteristic only in comparison to something else: months of relative calm ended in April. 3) Grammar (of a pronoun, determiner, or adverb)… …   English terms dictionary

  • Relative — Rel a*tive, 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • relative — [adj1] comparative, respective about, allied, analogous, approximate, associated, concerning, conditional, connected, contingent, corresponding, dependent, in regard to, near, parallel, proportionate, reciprocal, referring, related, relating to,… …   New thesaurus

  • relative — Under Title 11 U.S.C. Section 101: (45) The term relative means individual related by affinity or consanguinity within the third degree as determined by the common law, or individual in a step or adoptive relationship within such third degree.… …   Glossary of Bankruptcy

  • relative — (n.) late 14c., a relative pronoun, from O.Fr. relatif (13c.), from L.L. relativus having reference or relation, from L. relatus, pp. of referre to refer. Meaning person in the same family first recorded 1650s; the adj. is attested from 1520s …   Etymology dictionary

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