Relative

//ˈɹɛl.ə.tɪv// adj, adv, noun

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Connected to or depending on something else; comparative. not-comparable

    "For Liverpool, their season will now be regarded as a relative disappointment after failure to add the FA Cup to the Carling Cup and not mounting a challenge to reach the Champions League places."

  2. 2
    Expressed in relation to another item, rather than in complete form. not-comparable

    "The relative URL /images/pic.jpg, when evaluated in the context of http://example.com/index.html, corresponds to the absolute URL http://example.com/images/pic.jpg."

  3. 3
    Depending on an antecedent; comparative. not-comparable

    "The words “big” and “small” are relative."

  4. 4
    Having the same key but differing in being major or minor. not-comparable
  5. 5
    Relevant; pertinent; related. archaic, not-comparable, rare

    "relative to your earlier point about taxes, ..."

Show 1 more definition
  1. 6
    Capable to be changed by other beings or circumstance; conditional. not-comparable
Adjective
  1. 1
    estimated by comparison; not absolute or complete wordnet
  2. 2
    properly related in size or degree or other measurable characteristics; usually followed by ‘to’ wordnet
Adverb
  1. 1
    Alternative form of relatively. US, alt-of, alternative, not-comparable

    "In 1924 it moved to a commonious campus at Stockton. Like other Californian colleges, however, it decided to remain a relative small institution."

Noun
  1. 1
    Someone connected by blood, marriage, or adoption; someone in the same family.

    "The eldest son was usually given the name of his paternal grandfather, later children those of other relatives."

  2. 2
    an animal or plant that bears a relationship to another (as related by common descent or by membership in the same genus) wordnet
  3. 3
    Something kindred or related to something else. figuratively
  4. 4
    a person related by blood or marriage wordnet
  5. 5
    A type of adjective that inflects like a relative clause, rather than a true adjective, in certain Bantu languages.

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle French relatif, from Late Latin relātīvus, from Latin relātus, perfect passive participle of referō (“to carry back, to ascribe”), from re- (“again”) + ferō (“to bear or carry”).

Etymology 2

From Middle French relatif, from Late Latin relātīvus, from Latin relātus, perfect passive participle of referō (“to carry back, to ascribe”), from re- (“again”) + ferō (“to bear or carry”).

Etymology 3

From Middle French relatif, from Late Latin relātīvus, from Latin relātus, perfect passive participle of referō (“to carry back, to ascribe”), from re- (“again”) + ferō (“to bear or carry”).

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