Relaxing
from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
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.
[1913 Webster]
Horror . . . all his joints relaxed. --Milton.
[1913 Webster]
Nor served it to relax their serried files.
--Milton.
[1913 Webster]
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.
[1913 Webster]
The statute of mortmain was at several times relaxed
by the legislature. --Swift.
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3. Hence, to relieve from attention or effort; to ease; to
recreate; to divert; as, amusement relaxes the mind.
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4. To relieve from constipation; to loosen; to open; as, an
aperient relaxes the bowels.
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Syn: To slacken; loosen; loose; remit; abate; mitigate; ease;
unbend; divert.
[1913 Webster]
from
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
47 Moby Thesaurus words for "relaxing":
abating, allaying, alleviating, assuaging, blunting, chastening,
comfortable, comfy, commodious, contented, convenient, cozy,
cushioned, cushioning, cushiony, cushy, dampening, damping,
deadening, demulcent, diminishing, dulling, easeful, easing, easy,
emollient, friendly, homelike, homely, homey, lessening, lived-in,
loosening, luxurious, mitigating, mollifying, peaceful, reducing,
reposeful, restful, roomy, snug, soft, softening, subduing,
tempering, warm
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