Category:Relative

Rel"a*tive (rl"-tv), a. Etym: [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.)

Defn: indicating or expressing relation; refering to an antecedent; As, a relative pronoun.

4. (mus.)

Defn: 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.

Relative Rel"a*tive, n.

Defn: 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 prnoun; a word which relates to, or Represents, another word or phrase, called its antecedent; as, the Relatives " who", "which", "that".