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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

2 entries under this word

Representative

Rēp're-sēnt'a-tive, a.

adjective

a. [Fr. représentatif, Pr. représentatiu, Sp. & Pg. representativo, It. rappresentativo.]

  1. Fitted to represent; exhibiting a similitude.
  2. Bearing the character or power of another; as, a council representative of the people. Swift.
  3. (Nat. Hist.) Serving, or fitted, to present the full characters of the type of a group; as, a representative genus in a family. Dana.
  4. (Metaph.) Giving, or existing as, a transcript of what was originally presentative knowledge; as, representative faculties; representative knowledge.

Rĕp/re-sĕnt'a-tīve, n.

noun

n. 1. One who, or that which, represents, or exhibits the likeness of, another. “A statue of Rumor, whispering an idiot in the ear, who was the representative of Credulity.” Addison.

This doctrine supposes the perfections of God to be the representatives to us of whatever we perceive in the creatures. Locke.

Sense 2. An agent, deputy, or substitute, who supplies the place of another, or others, being invested with his or their authority.

Sense 3. (Law.) One who represents, or stands in the place of, another.

The executor or administrator is ordinarily held to be the representative of a deceased person, and is sometimes called the legal representative, or the personal representative. The heir is sometimes called the real representative of his deceased ancestor. The heirs and executors or administrators of a deceased person are sometimes compendiously described as his real and personal representatives.

Stephen. Craig. Wharton. Burrill. Jarman.

Sense 4. A member of the lower or popular house, in a State legislature, or in the national Congress. [U. S.]

Sense 5. (Nat. Hist.) That which presents the full character of the type of a group.