Hypertext Webster Gateway: "relax"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Relax \Re*lax"\ (r?-l?ks"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Relaxed}
(-l?kst"); p. pr. & vb. n. {Relaxing}.] [L. relaxare; pref.
re- re- + laxare to loose, to slacken, from laxus loose. See
{Lax}, and cf. {Relay}, n., {Release}.]
1. To make lax or loose; to make less close, firm, rigid,
tense, or the like; to slacken; to loosen; to open; as, to
relax a rope or cord; to relax the muscles or sinews.

Horror . . . all his joints relaxed. --Milton.

Nor served it to relax their serried files.
--Milton.

2. To make less severe or rigorous; to abate the stringency
of; to remit in respect to strenuousness, earnestness, or
effort; as, to relax discipline; to relax one's attention
or endeavors.

The statute of mortmain was at several times relaxed
by the legislature. --Swift.

3. Hence, to relieve from attention or effort; to ease; to
recreate; to divert; as, amusement relaxes the mind.

4. To relieve from constipation; to loosen; to open; as, an
aperient relaxes the bowels.

Syn: To slacken; loosen; loose; remit; abate; mitigate; ease;
unbend; divert.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Relax \Re*lax"\, n.
Relaxation. [Obs.] --Feltham.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Relax \Re**lax"\, a.
Relaxed; lax; hence, remiss; careless.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Relax \Re*lax"\, v. i.
1. To become lax, weak, or loose; as, to let one's grasp
relax.

His knees relax with toil. --Pope.

2. To abate in severity; to become less rigorous.

In others she relaxed again, And governed with a
looser rein. --Prior.

3. To remit attention or effort; to become less diligent; to
unbend; as, to relax in study.

From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)

relax
v 1: become less tense; "He relaxed in the hot tub" [syn: {loosen
up}, {unbend}, {unwind}, {decompress}, {slow down}]
[ant: {tense}]
2: make less tight; "relax the tension on the rope" [syn: {unbend}]
3: become loose or looser; "The noose loosened" [syn: {loosen}]
[ant: {stiffen}]
4: cause to feel relaxed; "A hot bath always relaxes me" [syn:
{unstrain}, {unlax}, {loosen up}, {unwind}, {make relaxed}]
[ant: {tense}, {tense}]
5: become less tight; "the rope relaxed" [syn: {loose}]


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