01 a. Having relation or reference; referring; respecting; standing in connection; pertaining; as, arguments not relative to the subject.
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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.
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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.
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3.
Indicating or expressing relation; refering to an antecedent; as, a relative pronoun.(Gram.)
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4.
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.(Mus.)
Phrases & compounds
Relative clause —
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.