correlative
UK[kəˈrɛlətɪv]US[kəˈrɛlətɪv]
adj
having a mutual relationship; corresponding, especially in such a way that one thing changes in relation to another.
n
a word or concept that has a mutual relationship with another.
Morpheme Breakdown
cor
relativ
e
cor
together
relativ
related
e
suffix
Etymology
the word 'correlative' is a modern english formation built upon the latin-derived components 'cor-' and 'relative'. the prefix 'cor-', a variant of 'com-', signifies 'together' or 'with', establishing the core idea of mutuality. this is attached to 'relative', which itself originates from the latin 'relativus', meaning 'having a relation or connection'. the term entered english in the 16th century, primarily as a grammatical and logical term to describe words or concepts that imply each other, such as 'either...or'. its meaning logically extends from the literal sense of 'being related together' to describe any two entities that exist in a mutually dependent or corresponding relationship.
Analysis
Structure: cor (together) + relativ (related) + e (suffix)
- cor: from latin 'com-', meaning 'together, with'. a prefix indicating association or joint action.
- relativ: from latin 'relativus', meaning 'having reference or relation'. derived from 'relatus', the past participle of 'referre' (to bring back, refer).
- e: a common noun-forming suffix in english, often derived from latin or french.
Examples
in grammar, 'either' and 'or' are correlative conjunctions.
there is a strong correlative link between education levels and income.
the study aimed to determine if the two variables were correlative, not causal.