Search the Dictionary

r reference; referring; respecting; standing in connection; pertaining; as, arguments not relative to the subject. I'll have grounds More relative than this. Shak.

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. I. Watts.

The state of being relative, or having relation; relativity.

g a reciprocal relation. Father and son, prince and subject, stranger and citizen, are correlative terms. Hume.

In a correlative relation.

Quality of being correlative.

Not relative; without mutual relations; unconnected. -- Ir*rel"a*tive*ly, adv. Irrelative chords (Mus.), those having no common tone. -- Irrelative repetition (Biol.), the multiplication of parts that serve for a common purpose, but have no mutual dependence or connection. Owen.

Having one part relatively shorter than another or than the ordinary type.

Shortened; relatively short; abbreviate.

3''. Planetary aberration is that due to the motion of light and the motion of the planet relative to the earth.

odifying influences or without comparison with other objects; actual; real; -- opposed to relative and comparative; as, absolute motion; absolute time or space.

A key or scale closely related to another as principal; a relative or attendant key. [R.] See Attendant keys, under Attendant, a.

To bring to a true relative position, as the parts of an instrument; to regulate for use; as, to adjust a telescope or microscope.

bringing all the parts of an instrument, as a microscope or telescope, into their proper relative position for use; the condition of being thus adjusted; as, to get a good adjustment; to be in or out of adjustment.

A relative whose relationship can be traced exclusively through males.

A relative; a kinsman. [Obs.] Shak.

Rays of relatively low penetrating power emitted by radium and other radioactive substances, and shown to consist of positively charged particles (perhaps particles of helium) having enormous velocities but small masses. They are slightly deflected by a strong magnetic or electric field.

One from whom an estate has descended; -- the correlative of heir.

The angle between the chord of an aërocurve and the relative direction of the undisturbed air current.

(Psychol.) Not subject to conscious attention; having an indefinite, relatively passive, conscious being; characteristic of the "fringe" or "margin" of consciousness.