Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Re-lāid′, imp. & p. p. p. 1111of relay.Relais, n. p. 1111(Fort.) A narrow walk without the rampart, to receive the earth that may be washed down, and prevent its falling into the ditch. [Rare.]Rē-lānd’, v. t. p. 1111To land again; to put on land, as that which had been shipped or embarked.Rē-lānd', v. i. p. 1111To go on shore after having embarked.Re-lāpse', v. i. p. 1111To slip or slide back; to return. 2. To fall back; to return to a former state or practice; generally in a bad sense, as from a state of convalescence or amended moral condition.Re-lāpse', n. p. 1111A sliding or falling back, particularly into a former bad state, either of body or morals. Alas! from what high hope to what relapse, Unlooked for, are we fallen! Milton. 2. One who has relapsed or…Re-lāte', v. t. p. 1111To bring back; to restore. [Obs.] Abate your zealous haste, till morrow next again Both light of heaven and strength of men relate. Spenser. 2. To refer; to ascribe to, as a source or origin. [Obs.…Re-lāte', v. i. p. 1111To stand in some relation; to have bearing or concern; to pertain; to refer;—followed by to. All negative words relate to positive ideas. Locke. 2. To make reference; to take account. [Obs. and…Re-lāt'ed, p. a. p. 1111Allied by kindred; connected by blood or alliance, particularly by consanguinity; as, a person related in the first or second degree. 2. Standing in relation or connection; as, the electric and…Re-lāt'er, n. p. 1111One who relates, recites, or narrates; an historian.Re-lā'tion, n. p. 1111The act of relating or telling; also, that which is related; recital; account; narration; narrative of facts; as, an historical relation. 2. The state of being related or of referring; what is…Re-lā'tion-al, a. p. 1111Having relation or kindred. We might be tempted to take these two nations for relational stems. Tooke. 2. Indicating or specifying some relation; as, a relational word.Re-lā'tion-ist, n. p. 1111A relative; a relation. [Obs. and rare.] Browne.Re-lā'tion-shĭp, n. p. 1111The state of being related by kindred, affinity, or other alliance. Mason.Rēl'a-tive, a. p. 1111Having relation; respecting; standing in connection; pertaining; as, arguments not relative to the subject. I'll have grounds More relative than this. Shak. 2. Arising from relation, or from…Rēl'a-tive, n. p. 1111One who, or that which, relates to, or is considered in its relation to, something else; a relative object or term; one of two objects directly connected by any relation; as, specifically, (a.) A…Rĕl'a-tive-ly, adv. p. 1111In a relative manner; in relation or respect to something else; not absolutely. Consider the absolute affections of any being as it is in itself, before you consider it relatively. Watts.Rēl'a-tive-ness, n. p. 1111The state of being relative, or bearing relation.Rĕl'a-tĭv'i-ty, n. p. 1112The state of being relative; as, the relativity of a subject. Coleridge.Re-lāt'or, n. p. 1112One who relates; a relater. “The several relators of this history.” Fuller. 2. (Law.) One who brings an information in the nature of a quo warranto; an informant at whose relation an information is…Re-lāt'rix, n. p. 1112(Law.) A female relator.Re-lăx', v. t. p. 1112To 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. Nor served it to relax their…Re-lāx', v. i. p. 1112To become loosened or feeble; to be made lax. His knees relax with toil. Pope. 2. To abate in severity; to become more mild or less rigorous. In others she relaxed again, And governed with a looser…Re-lāx', n. p. 1112Relaxation. [Obs.] Feltham.Re-lāx', a. p. 1112Relaxed; lax. [Rare.]Re-lāx'a-ble, a. p. 1112Capable of being relaxed or remitted. Barrow.Re-lăx'ant, n. p. 1112(Med.) A medicine that relaxes or opens.Rē'lax-ā'tion, n. p. 1112The act of relaxing, or the state of being relaxed or slackened; remission of closeness, firmness, tension, rigor, effort, or constipation; loosening; opening; as, relaxation of the muscles, or of…Re-lăx'ă-tive, a. p. 1112Having the quality of relaxing; laxative.Re-lăx'a-tive, n. p. 1112A medicine that relaxes; a laxative. [Rare.] B. Jonson.Re-lāy', n. p. 1112A supply of any thing arranged beforehand for affording relief from time to time, or at successive stages; provision for successive relief; as, specifically, (a.) A supply of horses placed on the…Rē-lāy', v. t. p. 1112To lay again; to lay a second time; as, to relay a pavement.Re-lēas'a-ble, a. p. 1112Capable of being released.Re-lēase', v. t. p. 1112To let loose again; to set free from restraint or confinement; to give liberty to; to let go. Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired. Mark xv. 6. 2. To relieve…Rē-lēase', v. t. p. 1112To lease again; to grant a new lease of; to let back.Re-lēase', n. p. 1112The act of letting loose or freeing, or the state of being let loose or freed; liberation or discharge from restraint of any kind, as from confinement or bondage. “Who boast’st release from hell?”…Re-lēas-ee', n. p. 1112A person to whom a release is given.Re-lēase'ment, n. p. 1112The act of releasing, as from confinement or obligation. Milton.Re-lēas'er, n. p. 1112One who releases.Rĕl'e-gāte, v. t. p. 1112To remove; to dispatch; to consign; to remand; to transfer; specifically, to send into exile; to banish. It [the Latin language] was relegated into the study of the scholar. Milman.Rĕl'e-gā'tion, n. p. 1112The act of relegating; removal; consignment; banishment; exile.Re-lēnt', v. i. p. 1112To become less rigid or hard; to lose compactness; to give way; to yield; to dissolve; to deliquesce; to relax. [Obs.] In some houses sweetmeats will relent more than in others. Bacon. Salt of tartar…Re-lēnt', v. t. p. 1112To slacken. And oftentimes he would relent his pace. Spencer. 2. To soften; to mollify. Spencer.Re-lēnt', a. p. 1112Dissolved; melted. [Obs.]Re-lēnt', n. p. 1112Remission; stay; stop; delay. [Obs.] She came without relent unto the land of Amazons. Spencer.Re-lĕnt'less, a. p. 1112Unmoved by appeals to sympathy or forgiveness; insensible to the distresses of others; destitute of tenderness; unpitying; as, a prey to relentless despotism. For this the avenging power employs his…Re-lĕnt'less-ly, adv. p. 1112In a relentless manner; without pity.Re-lēnt'less-ness, n. p. 1112The quality of being relentless, or unmoved by pity.Re-lĕnt'ment, n. p. 1112The condition or state of relenting; softening; relaxation. [Rare.] Browne.Rē'les-see', n. p. 1112The person to whom a release is executed.Rē/les-sōr', n. p. 1112The person who executes a release. There must be a privity of estate between the releasor and releasee. Blackstone.Re-lēt', v. t. p. 1112To let anew, as a house.Rĕl'e-vance or Rĕl'e-van-cy, n. p. 1112The state of being relevant, or of affording relief or aid; pertinence; applicableness. Its meaning little reason, little relevancy bore. E. A. Poe. 2. (Scots Law.) Sufficiency to infer the…Rēl'e-vant, a. p. 1112Relieving; lending aid or support. [Rare.] Pownall. 2. Bearing upon, or properly applying to, the case in hand; pertinent; applicable. Close and relevant arguments have very little hold on the…Rĕl'e-vā'tion, n. p. 1112A raising or lifting up. [Obs.]Re-lĭ/a-bĭl'i-ty, n. p. 1112The state or quality of being reliable; reliableness.Re-lī'a-ble, a. p. 1112Suitable or fit to be relied on; worthy of dependence or reliance; trustworthy. “A reliable witness to the truth of the miracles of Jesus.” J. Norton. According to General Livingston’s humorous…Re-lī'a-ble-ness, n. p. 1112The state or quality of being reliable; trustworthiness.Re-li'a-bly, adv. p. 1112In a reliable manner.Re-lī'ance, n. p. 1112The act of relying, or the condition or quality of being reliant; dependence; confidence; trust; repose of mind upon what is deemed sufficient support or authority. “In reliance on promises which…