relations


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re·la·tion

 (rĭ-lā′shən)
n.
1. A logical or natural association between two or more things; relevance of one to another; connection: the relation between smoking and heart disease.
2. The connection of people by blood or marriage; kinship.
3. A person connected to another by blood or marriage; a relative.
4. The way in which one person or thing is connected with another: the relation of parent to child.
5. relations
a. The mutual dealings or connections of persons, groups, or nations in social, business, or diplomatic matters: international relations.
b. Sexual intercourse.
6.
a. The act of telling or narrating.
b. A narrative; an account.
7. Mathematics A correspondence between two sets, consisting of a set of ordered pairs, the first element of each of which is from the first set, and the second element of each of which is from the second set. If A = {1,2} and B = {3,4}, then {(1,3), (1,4)} is a relation from A to B.
8. Law The principle by which an action done on a certain date is treated as having been done on an earlier date. Also called relation back.
Idiom:
in relation to
In reference to; in connection with: This letter from the bank is in relation to your mortgage.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

relations

(rɪˈleɪʃənz)
pl n
1. social, political, or personal connections or dealings between or among individuals, groups, nations, etc: to enjoy good relations.
2. family or relatives
3. euphemistic sexual intercourse
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.relations - mutual dealings or connections or communications among persons or groupsrelations - mutual dealings or connections or communications among persons or groups
social relation - a relation between living organisms (especially between people)
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
References in classic literature ?
Men uniting in these combinations always assume such relations toward one another that the larger number take a more direct share, and the smaller number a less direct share, in the collective action for which they have combined.
We often examined these two men, and always apart; they agreed in every circumstance of their relations, and confirmed us in our belief of them by leading us to the place where we took up the uncle and nephew of Mahomet, as they had described.
"About such relations?" He looked agreeably surprised.
Vanstone's most distant relations. Well knowing this (the letter proceeded to say), he had nevertheless persisted in forcing himself upon her as a species of family connection: and she had weakly sanctioned the intrusion, solely from the dread that he would otherwise introduce himself to Mr.
He had now no near relations living, and he had never made many friends.
The poor relations had kept in bed all day, with the view of attaining the same happy consummation, but, as they had been unsuccessful, they stopped there.
But I think the person is not an ingredient in the single thought: he is rather constituted by relations of the thoughts to each other and to the body.
'Beagle,' as naturalist, I was much struck with certain facts in the distribution of the inhabitants of South America, and in the geological relations of the present to the past inhabitants of that continent.
The bourgeoisie, wherever it has got the upper hand, has put an end to all feudal, patriarchal, idyllic relations. It has pitilessly torn asunder the motley feudal ties that bound man to his "natural superiors," and has left remaining no other nexus between man and man than naked self-interest, than callous "cash payment." It has drowned the most heavenly ecstasies of religious fervour, of chivalrous enthusiasm, of philistine sentimentalism, in the icy water of egotistical calculation.
The introduction to this felicity is in a private and tender relation of one to one, which is the enchantment of human life; which, like a certain divine rage and enthusiasm, seizes on man at one period and works a revolution in his mind and body; unites him to his race, pledges him to the domestic and civic relations, carries him with new sympathy into nature, enhances the power of the senses, opens the imagination, adds to his character heroic and sacred attributes, establishes marriage, and gives permanence to human society.
My peculiar relation to the writer of the following narratives is such that I must ask the reader to overlook the absence of explanation as to how they came into my possession.
In order to ascertain the real character of the government, it may be considered in relation to the foundation on which it is to be established; to the sources from which its ordinary powers are to be drawn; to the operation of those powers; to the extent of them; and to the authority by which future changes in the government are to be introduced.

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