a. and sb. [cf. F. correlatif, -ive (16th c.); perh. the source of both was a mod.L. *correlātīvus, f. cor- = com- together + relātīvus RELATIVE, referring.]
A. adj.
1. Having a reciprocal relation such that each necessarily implies, or is complementary to, the other; mutually interdependent; involving such a relation. Const. with, rarely to.
1690. Locke, Hum. Und., II. xxv. § 2. Father and son, husband and wife, and such other correlative terms.
1768–74. Tucker, Lt. Nat. (1852), II. 305. Neighbourhood … is correlative, so that no man can be neighbour to another without the other being likewise neighbour to him.
1853. Grote, Greece, II. lxxxiv. XI. 80. A free community with correlative rights and duties belonging to every citizen.
2. Normally or naturally related to each other or occurring in conjunction.
1530. Rastell, Bk. Purgat., III. xiii. The iustyce of God and the mercye of God be evermore correlatyve and concurrant.
1563. Foxe, A. & M. (1583), 433. This conclusion is correlatiue with the first Article of our fayth.
1859. Geo. Eliot, A. Bede, xix. It was Adam’s strength, not its correlative hardness, that influenced his meditations.
b. Related in the way of analogy, similarity, etc.; corresponding, analogous.
1596. Bacon, Max. Law, Reg. xxv. Another sort of ambiguitas latens is correlative unto this: for this ambiguity … is, when one name and appellation doth denominate divers things: and the second is when the same thing is called by divers names.
1829. I. Taylor, Enthus., ii. (1867), 26. Such utterances of desire, or hope, or love, as seem to suppose the existence of correlative feelings … in Him to whom they are addressed.
1872. W. S. Symonds, Rec. Rocks, vi. 179. The Wenlock shale and Wenlock limestone much resemble … the correlative rock in the typical district.
3. Gram. Applied to words corresponding to each other, and regularly used together, each in one member of a compound or complex sentence: e.g., either—or; so—as.
1871. Public Sch. Lat. Gram., § 94 (margin). Correlative Construction.
1879. Roby, Lat. Gram., § 1635. Comparative sentences … are introduced by correlative adjectives or adverbs; e. g. tantus…. quantus, tam…. quam, sic. … ut.
4. Physics. Of forces: Mutually dependent and convertible: see CORRELATION 2.
1843. Grove, Corr. Phys. Forces, 96. The forces are inseparable and mutually dependent,—correlative, but not identical.
1862. Huxley, Lect. Working Men, 27. The forces of that [living] matter are all of them correlative with and convertible into those of inorganic nature.
5. Biol. Of variations of structure, etc.: Mutually related so that the one is normally associated with the other: see CORRELATION 3.
1876. Foster, Phys., II. ii. (1879), 309. The blood … undergoes important correlative changes.
6. Geom. Said of propositions, figures, etc., reciprocally related so that to a point in either corresponds (in solid geometry) a plane, or (in plane geometry) a straight line in the other.
1881. C. Taylor, Geom. Conics, 346. Figures which correspond according to the law of duality have been called by Chasles … Correlative figures.
1885. Leudesdorf, Cremona’s Proj. Geom., 27. The following problem admits of two correlative solutions. Ibid., 28. In the Geometry of the plane, two correlative propositions are deduced one from the other by interchanging the words point and line.
B. sb.
1. Each of two things having a reciprocal relation such that the one necessarily implies, or is complementary to, the other.
1545. Joye, Exp. Dan. iii. 36. The signe & the thing signified be correlatyues.
1563–87. Foxe, A. & M. (1596), 12/2. Where no inferior is, there can be no superior, for … these togither are correlatiues.
1602. T. Fitzherbert, Apol., 44 a. Priesthood and sacrifice are correlatiues, and cannot be the one without the other.
1794. G. Adams, Nat. & Exp. Philos., III. xxvi. 102. Action and re-action are correlatives; one cannot exist without the other.
1842. J. H. Newman, Par. Serm., VI. xxiv. 373. The words used … are what are called correlatives, one implies the other.
1879. S. B. Gould, Germany, II. 245. Every several right has as its correlative an obligation.
b. The two terms of such a relation have been distinguished as relative and correlative. Obs.
1579. Fulke, Heskins’ Parl., 475. Euery relatiue must haue a correlatiue.
a. 1653. Gouge, Comm. Heb. i. 5. (1655), 46. The relative, a Father.… The correlative, a Sonne.
2. Something normally related to, or occurring along with, something else.
1546. Gardiner, Decl. Art. Joye, 66 b. That vnderstande not the nature of correlatiues, and se not howe a promise, can onely be apprehended by fayth.
1601. R. Johnson, Kingd. & Commw. (1603), 248. Flanders … is the true correlatiue of the Indies, seeing that all the gold brought out of India is spent in the low countrie warres.
1628. trans. Mathieu’s Powerf. Favorite, 58. A stab is alwayes due for a box on the eare, and is a correlatiue to it.
1651. Biggs, New Disp., ¶ 180. The vital powers and bloud are Correlatives.
1883. Ray Lankester, Advancem. Science (1890), 292. The naturalist-traveller and his correlative, the museum curator and systematist.
b. Something corresponding or analogous; an analogue.
1875. Whitney, Life Lang., iii. 39. We have its very ancient correlatives in Sanskrit agra, [etc.].
1879. Sir G. G. Scott, Lect. Archit., I. 259. Those classes and purposes differ in a majority of cases, from their correlatives at the present day.
† c. Used of persons: A relative. Obs. rare.
1697. Observ. Money & Coin, 33. As when a tender Parent or kind Friend orders or procures a Joynt or Limb to be cut off from his Correlative.
3. Gram. Each of two correlative words: see A. 3.
1808. Middleton, Grk. Article (1855), 36. Correlatives are words in regimen, having a mutual reference.
1876. Mason, Eng. Gram. (ed. 21), § 288 b. Either—or, neither—nor, whether—or, both—and, are used in pairs as correlatives. Ibid., § 163. The proper correlative of which is such.
4. Physics, etc. A correlative force; the equivalent of some force in another form.
1855. H. Spencer, Princ. Psychol. (1872), I. II. ix. 278. Pains are the correlatives of actions injurious to the organism. Ibid. (1862), First Princ., II. v. § 56. What continues to exist during these oscillations is some correlative of the muscular effort which put the chandelier in motion.
1871. Tyndall, Fragm. Sc. (1879), I. xxi. 491–2. Every thought or feeling has its physical correlative.
5. Biol. A normally and apparently necessarily associated characteristic: cf. CORRELATION 3.
