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.