All 6 Uses of

relative
in
Listening for Lions

I saw that the relatives had maize for their porridge and that their fires did not burn out of control.†
Book 1 *

relatives = people related by blood or marriage

By the end of my first year I could wrap a bandage around an injury and calm the fears of relatives who were sure the hospital meant certain death.†
Book 1

Though the hospital had been forbidden to me, I pushed through the entrance, making my way through the crowds of Kikuyu and Masai waiting for news of their relatives.†
Book 1

We must have doors that close firmly, Bibi Rachel, so that the relatives don't gather to look over our shoulders.†
Book 3

Definitions:

(1) (relative as in: the relative importance)
compared with something else (not an absolute value or not complete)
(2) (relative as in: they are relatives)
connected
in 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."
(3) (relative as in: questions relative to the topic)
related to
(4) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)
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.