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respective. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
respective, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
respective in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
respective you have here. The definition of the word
respective will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
respective, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
Borrowed from Medieval Latin respectivus, from Latin respectus. Equivalent to respect + -ive.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ɹɪˈspɛktɪv/
- Rhymes: -ɛktɪv
- Hyphenation: re‧spec‧tive
Adjective
respective (not comparable)
- Relating to particular persons or things, each to each; particular; own.
They returned to their respective places of abode.
2012 August 23, Alasdair Lamont, “Hearts 0-1 Liverpool”, in BBC Sport:Adam and Novikovas swapped long-range efforts, neither of which troubled the respective keepers.
2020 April 22, “Network News: Staged return to work at Hitachi and CAF factories”, in Rail, page 9: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.
- (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
- (obsolete) Looking toward; having reference to; relative, not absolute.
the respective connections of society
- (obsolete) Fitted to awaken respect.
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 Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, , line 192:What should it be that he respects in her / But I can make respective in myself,
- (obsolete) Rendering respect; respectful; regardful.
, Homer, “(please specify |book=I to XXIV)”, in Geo 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:With a respective shame, rose, took us by the hands.
- a. 1598, William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, instructions to his son Robert Cecil, when young
- With thy equals familiar, yet respective.
Synonyms
Derived terms
Translations
referencing two or more things as individuals
Anagrams
French
Pronunciation
Adjective
respective
- feminine singular of respectif
German
Adverb
respective
- Obsolete spelling of respektive.