All 4 Uses
relative
in
Selected Essays
(Auto-generated)
- [48] Cradle and infancy, school and playground, the fear of boys, and dogs, and ferules,[49] the love of little maids and berries, and many another fact that once filled the whole sky, are gone already; friend and relative, profession and party, town and country, nation and world, must also soar and sing†
Chpt 1.
- For, fashion is not good sense absolute, but relative; not good sense private, but good sense entertaining company.†
Chpt 6. *
- They have yet to learn that its seeming grandeur is shadowy and relative: it is great by their allowance: its proudest gates will fly open at the approach of their courage and virtue.†
Chpt 6.
- Thus, all originality is relative.†
Chpt 9.
Definitions:
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(1)
(relative as in: the relative importance) compared with something else (not an absolute value or not complete)
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(2)
(relative as in: they are relatives) connectedin various senses, including:
- a person related by blood or marriage -- as in "The hospital won't let me visit her because I'm not a relative."
- a plant or animal related by origin or grouping -- "The closest relative of the dog is the gray wolf."
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(3)
(relative as in: questions relative to the topic) related to
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(4)
(meaning too rare to warrant focus) More specialized and less common senses of the word are found in philosophy, grammar, and music. Consult a comprehensive dictionary if you wish to see those. All senses have to do with relationships.