Relative - Dictionary Definition and Overview

Relative :  adj
1: not absolute or complete; "a relative stranger" [ant: absolute]
2: properly related in size or degree or other measurable characteristics; usually followed by `to'; "punishment oughtt to be proportional to the crime"; "earnings relative to production" [syn: proportional] (noun)
1: a person related by blood or marriage; "police are searching for relatives of the deceased"; "he has distant relations back in New Jersey" [syn: relation]
2: an animal or plant that bears a relationship to another (as related by common descent or by membership in the same genus) [syn: congener, congenator]

Based on WordNet 2.0

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 connected by blood or affinity; strictly, one allied by blood; a relation; a kinsman or kinswoman. ``Confining our care . . . to ourselves and relatives.'' --Bp. Fell. (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''.

Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged 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.

I'll have grounds More relative than this. --Shak.

2. 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. --South.

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

4. (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. --Moore (Encyc. of Music).

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.

Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

RELATIVE. One connected with another by blood or affinity; a relation, a kinsman or kinswoman. In an adjective sense, having relation or connexion with some other person or thing; asRelative : rights, relative powers.

Based on Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) [Bouvier_Law_Dictionary]:

Relative : 

Early system on IBM 650. Listed in CACM 2(5):16 (May 1959).



Based on Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) [Bouvier_Law_Dictionary]:
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