2. To cause to seem to rise; to put in relief; to give
prominence or conspicuousness to; to set off by contrast.
Her tall figure relieved against the blue sky;
seemed almost of supernatural height. --Sir W.
Scott.
3. To raise up something in; to introduce a contrast or
variety into; to remove the monotony or sameness of.
The poet must . . . sometimes relieve the subject
with a moral reflection. --Addison.
4. To raise or remove, as anything which depresses, weighs
down, or crushes; to render less burdensome or afflicting;
to allevate; to-abate; to mitigate; to lessen; as, to
relieve pain; to relieve the wants of the poor.
5. To free, wholly or partly, from any burden, trial, evil,
distress, or the like; to give ease, comfort, or
consolation to; to give aid, help, or succor to; to
support, strengthen, or deliver; as, to relieve a besieged
town.
Now lend assistance and relieve the poor. --Dryden.
6. To release from a post, station, or duty; to put another
in place of, or to take the place of, in the bearing of
any burden, or discharge of any duty.
Who hath relieved you? --Shak.
7. To ease of any imposition, burden, wrong, or oppression,
by judicial or legislative interposition, as by the
removal of a grievance, by indemnification for losses, or
the like; to right.
Syn: To alleviate; assuage; succor; assist; aid; help;
support; substain; ease; mitigate; lighten; diminish;
remove; free; remedy; redress; indemnify.