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Webster 1913 Edition

Relax

Re-lax′

(r?-l?ks′)
,
Verb.
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
,
Noun.
,
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.

Re-lax′

,
Verb.
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
.

Re-lax′

,
Noun.
Relaxation.
[Obs.]
Feltham.

Re--lax′

,
Adj.
Relaxed; lax; hence, remiss; careless.

Webster 1828 Edition

Relax

RELAX'

,
Verb.
T.
[L. relaxo; re and laxo, to slacken.]
1.
To slacken; to make less tense or rigid; as, to relax a rope or cord; to relax the muscles or sinews; to relax the reins in riding.
2.
To loosen; to make less close or firm; as, to relax the joints.
3.
To make less severe or rigorous; to remit or abate in strictness; as, to relax a law or rule of justice; to relax a demand.
4.
To remit or abate in attention, assiduity or labor; as, to relax study; to relax exertions or efforts.
5.
To unbend; to ease; to relieve from close attention; as, conversation relaxes the student or the mind.
6.
To relieve from constipation; to loosen; to open; as, medicines relax the bowels.
7.
To open; to loose.
8.
To make languid.

RELAX'

,
Verb.
I.
1.
To abate in severity; to become more mild or less rigorous.
In others she relax'd again, and govern'd with a looser rein.
2.
To remit in close attention. It is useful for the student to relax often, and give himself to exercise and amusements.

RELAX'

,
Noun.
Relaxation. [Not used.]

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