I. ˈreləd.iv, -ətiv noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French relatif (adjective) or Late Latin relativus (adjective)
1. : a word (as a relative pronoun) referring grammatically to an antecedent
2. : a thing having a relation to or connection with or necessary dependence upon another thing : a being or object posited by virtue of its relations — opposed to absolute
3.
a. : a person connected with another by blood or affinity ; especially : one allied by blood : relation , kinsman
gifts to friends and relatives
b. : an animal or plant related to another by common descent
teosinte, corn's closest relative — P.C.Mangelsdorf
4. : a relative term
using the relatives father and son instead of the absolutes man and boy
5. : one of two or more related chemical substances: as
a. : one of a group of chemical compounds derived from a common parent
b. : one of a series of isomeric compounds
6. : a statistical figure obtained by taking the value of a variable (as a price, a production total) for one time or place, dividing it by the value of the same variable for another time and place, and multiplying by 100
II. adjective
Etymology: Middle French or Late Latin; Middle French relatif, from Late Latin relativus, from Latin relatus (suppletive past participle of referre to carry back, refer, relate) + -ivus -ive — more at relate
1. : referring to an antecedent : introducing a subordinate clause qualifying an expressed or implied antecedent
a relative connective
also : introduced by a connective referring to an expressed or implied antecedent — see relative adjective , relative adverb , relative clause , relative pronoun
2.
a. archaic : having mutual relation with each other : related , corresponding
several different yet relative designs — Nathaniel Hawthorne
b. : correlating with a right or duty of another : corresponding
relative rights of husband and wife
3. : having relation, reference, or application : pertaining, relevant , pertinent
matters relative to maintenance of international peace — Vera M. Dean
4. : arising from relation : resulting from or existing in connection with or reference to something else : not absolute or independent : comparative — distinguished from positive
relative velocity
relative value of dollars and pounds
relative isolation of life in the country
5. : having the same key signature — used of major and minor keys and scales
G major and E minor are relative keys
6. : expressed as the ratio of the specified quantity to the total magnitude or to the mean of all the quantities involved
relative constant error in measuring
relative probable error