Re*la"tion*ship, n. The state of being related by kindred, affinity, or
other alliance. Mason.
Rel"a*tive (r?l"?-t?v), a. [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.) Indicating or expressing relation; refering to an
antecedent; as, a relative pronoun.
4. (Mus.) 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.
Rel"a*tive, n. 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 pronoun; a word which relates to, or represents, another word
or phrase, called its antecedent; as, the relatives "who", "which",
"that".
Rel"a*tive*ly, adv. In a relative manner; in relation or respect to
something else; not absolutely.
Consider the absolute affections of any being as it is in itself,
before you consider it relatively.