relation, relative

relation, relative
Both of these words are sanctioned by leading dictionaries as standard, interchangeable terms for a kinsman, a person who is related by blood or marriage: "I believe that this relation (or relative) of mine is a second cousin." Each word is more often used in plural than singular form, presumably because nearly everyone has numerous kinsmen: "My relatives (or relations) live in several different states." The idiom "no relation of," not "no relation to," should be used in a statement such as "Bob Moran is no relation of Hank Moran." However, to should be used in such sentences as "Bob Moran is not related to Hank Moran." Apparently more skilled writers use relative than relation, but the term to be selected is a matter of taste or local custom.

Dictionary of problem words and expressions. . 1975.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • relation - relative - relationship — These words are used to refer to people or to connections between people. ◊ relation and relative Your relations or relatives are the members of your family. I said that I was a relation of her first husband. His wife had to visit some of her… …   Useful english dictionary

  • relation — See relation, relative …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • relative — See relation, relative …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • RELATION — Le concept de relation apparaît comme l’un des concepts fondamentaux du discours rationnel. Il semble lié à la pratique de l’analyse, qui constitue elle même l’un des aspects essentiels de la démarche discursive. L’analyse décompose les unités… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • relative — rel·a·tive adj 1: not absolute 2 in the civil law of Louisiana: having or allowing some legal effect a relative impediment a relative simulation see also relative nullity at nullity …   Law dictionary

  • Relative — 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. [1913 Webster] I ll have grounds More… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Relative clause — Relative 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. [1913 Webster] I ll have grounds… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Relative term — Relative 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. [1913 Webster] I ll have grounds… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • relation — I (connection) noun affiliation, affinity, alliance, analogy, applicability, appositeness, apposition, association, bearing, bond, closeness, cognation, comparableness, connation, connaturalness, connexion, correlation, correspondence, homology,… …   Law dictionary

  • Relation algebra — is different from relational algebra, a framework developed by Edgar Codd in 1970 for relational databases. In mathematics, a relation algebra is a residuated Boolean algebra supporting an involutary unary operation called converse. The… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”