relativizev.
/ˈrɛlətᵻvʌɪz/, U.S. /ˈrɛlədəˌvaɪz/ 1. transitive. Originally Philosophy. To make relative. Also: to make relative to something else.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > relate to [verb (transitive)] > render relative or proportionate
approportionate1662
relativize1881
the mind > language > linguistics > study language [verb (transitive)] > specific
relativize1881
contextualize1934
the mind > mental capacity > philosophy > philosophy of language > meaning > [verb (transitive)]
connote1829
denote1843
relativize1966
1881 J. Owen Evenings with Skeptics iv. 349 Their main purpose..was to relativize the absolute, if I may coin the phrase.
1893 tr. F. Rauh in Internat. Jrnl. Ethics 3 391 The relative does not relativize the absolute; it is the absolute which absolutizes the relative.
1937 T. Parsons Struct. Social Action xi. 447 His [sc. Durkheim's] theory of religion, by associating it with the social type, relativized another great body of phenomena.
1966 J. J. Katz Philos. Lang. ii. 14 The philosopher of language..need not restrict his philosophical solutions and claims by relativizing them to the conceptual systems.
2000 M. Burleigh Third Reich viii. 604 A generation of German historians..is..wary of talk of other guilty parties, lest this relativise primary German culpability.
2. transitive. Physics. To apply the theory of relativity to; esp. to modify (a concept in Newtonian mechanics) according to the principles and results of the theory of relativity.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > relativity > treat relativistically [verb (transitive)]
relativize1921
1921 K. Wichmann tr. H. Schmidt Relativity & Universe 76 Not only the idea of simultaneousness, but also the idea of duration, will have to be relativised [Ger. zu relativieren].
1935 J. Dougall tr. M. Born Atomic Physics iv. 84 Einstein proved that this concept must be ‘relativized’, since two events may be simultaneous in one frame of reference, but take place at different times in another.
1989 Brit. Jrnl. Philos. Sci. 40 522 Petzoldt apparently hoped that relativizing the constancy of light..would allow Machians to accept relativity theory.
2007 J. Bowden tr. H. Küng Beginning All Things ii. 8 Einstein relativized gravity and with it also space and time.
Derivatives
ˈrelativizing n. and adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > [noun] > relativity > action of making relative or being made relative
relativizing1910
relativization1927
the mind > language > linguistics > study of grammar > a part of speech > other parts of speech > [adjective] > relating to a relative
relationala1690
relatival1850
relativizing1975
the world > relative properties > relationship > [adjective] > relative > making relative
relativizing1986
1910 Amer. Jrnl. Theol. 14 139 How convenient this relativizing of scientific knowledge becomes, in view of the conflict between modern science and ecclesiastical dogma!
1975 Found. Lang. 13 297 One of the three relativizing morphemes of the language.
1986 National Rev. 14 Feb. 34/1 Ecumenism has been viewed by many traditionalists as a liberalizing and relativizing enterprise.
2004 R. Barcan Nudity iii. 155 In a culture in which the naked body is a source of discomfort or disdain, the relativizing of nakedness might seem to reinforce the perception that nakedness carries with it some stigma.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2009; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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