Profundity, in its secondary as in its primary sense, is a relative term

Macaulay, Sadler's Ref. Refuted. Our friends and relatives stand weeping by, Di olv'd in tears to see us die. Pomfret , Prospect of Death. There is no greater bugbear than a strong-willed relative To most of those who hold it, the difference between the Ego and the Non-ego is not one of language only, nor a formal distinction between two aspects of the same real- ity, but denotes two realities, each having a separate ex- istence, and neither dependent on the other. They be- lieve that there is a real universe of "things in them- selves," and that whenever there is an impre ion on our senses, there is a "thing in itself," which is behind the phæno men on, and is the cause of it. But as to what this thing is "in itself," we, having no organs except our senses for communicating with it, can only know what our senses tell us; and as they tell us nothing but the impre ion which the thing makes upon us, we do not know what it we know the existence, and nothing more. It is in this form that the doctrine of the relativity of knowledge is held by the greater number of those who profe to hold it, at- taching any definite idea to the term. J. S. Mill , Examination of Hamilton, ii. relator (rē-lā'tor), п . [ relateur = Sp. Pg. relator İt. relatore , relatore , relator , a relater, nar- rat or, referre , pp. relatus , relate, etc.: see re- late .] 1. Same as relater . When this place affords anything worth your hearing, I will be your relator . Donne , Letters, xxx i. 2. In law , a person on whose suggestion or com- plaint an action or special proceeding in the name of the state (his name being usually joined therewith) is brought, to try a question involv- ing both public and private right. relatrix (re-lā'triks), п . tor.] In law , a female relator or petitioner. Story. relatum (rē-lāʼtum), n .; pl. relata (-tä). [ML.: see relate , n .] Same as relate . The Relatum and its Correlate seem to be simul naturâ. Grote, Aristotle, I. iii. relax (rē-laks'), v . [ relaxer = Pr. relaxar , relachar = Sp. relajar = Pg. relaxar = It. rila are , rilasciare , release, relax are , relax, re- , back, + laxare , loosen, lax us , loose: see lax1 . Doublet of release1 .] I. trans . 1. To slacken; make more lax or le tense or rigid; loosen; make le close or firm: as, to relax a rope or cord; to relax the muscles or Nor served it to relax their serried files. Milton , P. L., vi. 599. The self-complacent actor, when he views The slope of faces from the floor to th' roof. Relax'd into a universal grin. Cowper , Task, iv. 204. 2. To make le severe or rigorous; remit or abate in strictne : as, to relax a law or rule. The statute of mortmain was at several times relaxed by the legislature. Swift . His principles, though not inflexible, were not more relaxed than those of his a ociates and competitors. Macaulay , Burleigh and his Times. 3. To remit or abate in respect to attention, a iduity, effort, or labor: as, to relax study; to relax exertions or efforts. - 4. To relieve from attention or effort; afford a relaxation to; un- bend: as, conversation relaxes the mind of the student.-5. To abate; take away.-6. To relieve from constipation; loosen; open: as, medicines relax the bowels.-7. To set loose or free; give up or over. The whole number of convicts amounted to thirty, of whom sixteen were reconciled, and the remainder relaxed to the secular arm in other words, turned over to the civil magistrate for execution. Pre scott . 2. To mitigate, ease.-4. To divert, recreate. II. in trans . 1. To become loose, feeble, or The bill has ever been petitioned against, and the muti- nous were likely to go great lengths, if the Admiralty had not bought off some by money, and others by relaxing in the material points. Walpole , Letters, II. 147. 3. To remit in close attention; unbend. No man can fix so perfect an idea of that virtue [justice] as that he may not afterwards find reason to add or relax therefrom. A. Tucker , Light of Nature, II. iii. 24. The mind, relaxing into needful sport, Should turn to writers of an abler sort. Labours and cares may have their relaxes and recrea- Feltham , Resolves, ii. 58. relaxt (re-laks'), a . ML. relax us , relaxed: loose. [= It. rela o , weary, relax , v .] Relaxed; The sinews,.. when the southern wind bloweth, are Bacon , Nat. Hist., § 381. mo more relax . relaxable (re-lak'sa-bl), a . [ relax + -able .] Capable of being relaxed or remitted. All la itude is a kind of contusion and compre ion of the parts; and bathing and anointing give a relaxation or emollition. Bacon , Nat. Hist., § 730. But relaxation of the languid frame By soft recumbency of outstretch'd limbs Was bli reserv'd for happier days. IMG:content-1911.png:[blocks in formation] A relaxation of religion's hold Upon the roving and untutor'd heart Soon follows. Cowper , Task, ii. 569. There is no better known fact in the history of the world than that a deadly epidemic brings with it a relaxation of moral instincts. E. Sartorius , In the Soudan, p. 76. 2. Unbending; recreation; a state or oссира- tion intended to give mental or bodily relief after effort. B. Jonson , Magnet ick Lady, iii. 4. 2. That which gives relaxation; a relaxation. The Moresco festivals seem relaxatives of corporeal labours. L. Add is on , West Barbary, xvii. [ relaye , relais , rest, stop, remi ion, delay, a relay, F. relais , relay, It. rila o , relay; cf. rila o , rela o , same as rilascio , a release, etc.; OF.relai er , release, let go, relinquish, intr. stop, cease, rest, = It. rila are , relasciare , relax, release, re- laxare , loosen, let loose, allow to rest: see relax and release1 .] 1. A fresh supply, especially of animals to be substituted for others; specifi- cally, a fresh set of dogs or horses, in hunting, held in readine to be cast off or to remount the hunters should occasion require, or a relief supply of horses held in readine for the con- venience of travelers. Ther overt ok I a gret route Of huntes and eke of forest eres, With many relayes and lymeres. Rob. What relays set you? John. None at all; we laid not B. Jonson, Sad Shepherd, i. 2. Through the night goes the diligence, pa ing relay after relay . Thackeray , Philip, xxix. 2. A squad of men to take a spell or turn of work at stated intervals; a shift.-3. Gener- ally, a supply of anything laid up or kept in store for relief or fresh supply from time to time. Who call aloud. For change of follies, and relays of joy. relay 4. An instrument, consisting principally of an electromagnet with the armature delicately adjusted for a slight motion about an axis, and with contact-points so arranged that the movement of the armature in obedience to the signals transmitted over the line puts a battery, known as the local battery , into or out of a short local circuit in which is the recording or receiving apparatus. Also called relay magnet.- Microphone relay. See microphone . - Polarized relay, a relay in which the armature is permanently magnetized. The movements of the armature are accomplished without the use of a retractile spring, and the instrument is thus more sensitive than one of the ordinary form. Relay of ground, ground laid up in fallow. Richardson. relay2 (re-lā'), v. t. [ relay a pavement. [ release + -able .] relbun (rel'bun), n . See Calceolaria . releasable (rē-lē'sa-bl), a . Capable of being released. He [Ethelbald, king of Mercland) discharged all monasteries and churches of all kind of taxes, works, and imposts, excepting such as were for building of forts and bridges, being (as it seems the law was then) not releas able . releasel (rēlēs'), n. [ relees , reles , re- lece , reles , relez , relais , rellais , F. relais = It. rilascio , a release, relay; from the verb: see releasel , v ., and cf. relay1 .] 1. Liberation or discharge from restraint of any kind, as from confinement or bondage. Confined together, all prisoners, sir,... They cannot budge till your release . Shak ., Tempest, v. 1. 11. Thou Who boast'st release from hell, and leave to come Into the heaven of heavens. Milton , P. R., i. 409. 2. Liberation from care, pain, or any burden. It seem'd so hard at first, mother, to leave the ble ed sun, And now it seems as hard to stay, and yet His will be done! But still I think it can't be long before I find release . Tennyson, May Queen, Conclusion. When the Sabbath brings its kind release , And care lies slumbering on the lap of Peace. ...