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.