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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

respective en · ADJ

Pronunciation

  • /ɹɪˈspɛktɪv/ (Canada, General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
  • (California) audio
  • (Texas) audio
  • /ɹɪˈspektɪv/ (Australia)

Etymology

Borrowed from Medieval Latin respectivus, from Latin respectus. By surface analysis, respect + -ive.

Meanings

  1. (not-comparable) Relating to particular persons or things, each to each; particular; own.
    • Adam and Novikovas swapped long-range efforts, neither of which troubled the respective keepers. 2012 August 23, Alasdair Lamont, “Hearts 0-1 Liverpool”, in BBC Sport:
    • They returned to their respective places of abode.
    • Hitachi and CAF have begun a staged return to work at their respective Newton Aycliffe and Newport factories, having reduced output following the COVID-19 outbreak. 2020 April 22, “Network News: Staged return to work at Hitachi and CAF factories”, in Rail, page 9:
  2. (not-comparable, obsolete) Noticing with attention; careful; wary.
    • c. 1559-1570, Edwin Sandys, letter to Bernard Gilpin But if you looke upon the estate of the church of England with a respective eye , you cannot with a good conscience refuse this charge imposed upon you
  3. (not-comparable, obsolete) Looking toward; having reference to; relative, not absolute.
    • the respective connections of society
  4. (not-comparable, obsolete) Fitted to awaken respect.
    • What should it be that he respects in her / But I can make respective in myself, c. 1590–1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Two Gentlemen of Verona”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iv], line 192:
  5. (not-comparable, obsolete) Rendering respect; respectful; regardful.
    • With a respective shame, rose, took us by the hands. [1611?], Homer, “(please specify |book=I to XXIV)”, in Geo[rge] Chapman, transl., The Iliads of Homer Prince of Poets. […], London: […] Nathaniell Butter, →OCLC; republished as The Iliads of Homer, Prince of Poets, […], new edition, volume (please specify the book number), London: Charles Knight and Co., […], 1843, →OCLC:
    • a. 1598, William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, instructions to his son Robert Cecil, when young With thy equals familiar, yet respective.

Deriveds

respectively · disrespective · respectiveness · corespective · unrespective · irrespective

Synonyms

corresponding (relating to particular persons or things) · specific (relating to particular persons or things) · relevant (relating to particular persons or things)

Translations (27)

pl odpowiedni (referencing two or more things as individuals) · vi riêng từng (người, cái, …) (referencing two or more things as individuals) · pt respetivo (referencing two or more things as individuals) · nn respektiv (referencing two or more things as individuals) · el αντίστοιχος (referencing two or more things as individuals) · vi tương ứng (referencing two or more things as individuals) · hy համապատասխան (referencing two or more things as individuals) · ru соотве́тствующий (referencing two or more things as individuals) · lv attiecīgs (referencing two or more things as individuals) · ml അതത് (referencing two or more things as individuals) · es respectivo (referencing two or more things as individuals) · ca respectiu (referencing two or more things as individuals) · lv piederīgs (referencing two or more things as individuals) · pt respectivo (referencing two or more things as individuals) · da respektive (referencing two or more things as individuals) · bg съответен (referencing two or more things as individuals) · pl poszczególny (referencing two or more things as individuals) · nl achtereenvolgend (referencing two or more things as individuals) · de jeweilig (referencing two or more things as individuals) · fi vastaava (referencing two or more things as individuals) · eo respektiva (referencing two or more things as individuals) · sv respektiv (referencing two or more things as individuals) · fr respectif (referencing two or more things as individuals) · nb respektiv (referencing two or more things as individuals) · gd air leth (referencing two or more things as individuals) · uk відпові́дний (referencing two or more things as individuals) · lv atbilstošs (referencing two or more things as individuals)