relative

rel•a•tive

[[t]ˈrɛl ə tɪv[/t]] n.

1) ant a person who is connected with another by blood or marriage

2) something having, or standing in, some relation to something else

3) something dependent upon external conditions for its specific nature, size, etc

(opposed to absolute).

4) gram. a relative pronoun, adjective, or adverb

5) considered in relation to something else; comparative:

the relative merits of gas and electric heating[/ex]

6) existing or having its specific nature only by relation to something else; not absolute or independent:

Happiness is relative[/ex]

7) having relation or connection

8) having reference; relevant; pertinent (usu. fol. by to):

the facts relative to the case[/ex]

9) correspondent; proportionate

10) depending for significance upon something else:

“Better” is a relative term[/ex]

11) gram. of or designating a word that introduces a subordinate clause and refers to an expressed or implied element of the principal clause: the relative pronoun who in “That was the woman who called”; the relative adverb where

in “This is the house where I was born.”[/ex]

12) mad (of a musical key) having the same key signature as another key:

a relative minor[/ex]

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Etymology: 1350–1400; ME relatif (n.) (< MF) < LL relātīvus (adj.); see relate, -ive rel′a•tive•ly, adv.