relaxation

[Fr., from Lat. relaxationem, acc us. of relaxatio, from relax at us, pa. par. of re laro to relax (q.v.); Sp. relax a cion; Ital. rela azione, rila azione.] I. Ordinary Language: "Relaxation of the languid frame." Cowper : Task , i. 81. relaxative 2. The act of relaxing or moderating in strictne , severity, or rigor. "Abatements and relaxations of the laws of Christ."Water land: Works , vi. 25. 3. A remi ion or abatement of effort, application, or attention; as, the relaxation of one's efforts. 4. The act of refreshing, or recreating; an occupation or state intended to give relief to mind or body after effort; a recreation. "For what kings deem a toil, as well they may, To him is relaxation and mere play." Cowper : Table Talk , 156. II. Pathol .: Laxity, absence of tension, firmne , or tone in the muscles, ., or in the system generally. rě-lăx-a-tive, a. & s. [O. Fr. relax at if.] 3408 2. Liberation or freeing from pain, care, trouble, grief, or other evil. 3. Liberation or discharge from obligation, penalty, responsibility, or claim of any kind; acquittance. "Our pardon must include a release from both."-Scott: Christian Life , pt. ii., ch. vii. II. Technically : 1. Law : A discharge of a right; an instrument in writing, by which estates, rights, titles, entries, actions, and other things are extinguished and discharged, and sometimes transferred, abridged, or enlarged; and, in general, it signifies a person's giving up or discharging the right or action he has, or claims to have, against another or his lands. "Releases are a discharge or conveyance of a man's former estate in po e ion."- Black stone : Comment., bk. ii., ch. 20. B. As substantive: 2. Steam- eng .: The opening of the exhaust-port "You must use relaxatives." Ben Jonson: Magnetic Lady. 2. That which affords relaxation; a relaxation. rě-lāy', *re-laye, s. [Fr. relais = a relay; prob. from Low Lat. relax us =loose, lax; Lat. relaxo =to relax (q. v.).] I. Ordinary Language : 1. A supply of anything provided or kept in store for affording relief from time to time, or at succe ive stages. "Change of follies and relays of joy." Young: Night Thoughts , ii. 250. 2. Specifi ., a supply or set of fresh horses placed at certain stages on the road in readine to relieve others, so that the traveler may proceed without delay. "The king, however, and the great officers of state, were able to command relays."-Macaulay; Hist. Eng., ch. iii. *3. A fresh set of horses, or hounds, or both, placed in readine at certain places to be used to relieve others, in case the game pursued came that way. "[They] now dispose their choice relays Of horse and hounds, each like each other fleet." Davenant: Gondibert , i. 2. II. Telegr .: A device for enabling telegraphic me ages to be sent over very long distances. The whole line is divided into sections, at the end of each of which is a relay. This consists simply of an electro-magnetic arrangement by which the first current, enfeebled by traveling over the first section of the line, is only used to send a current from a fresh battery on to the next. Relay of ground: Ground laid up in fallow. ( Richardson . ) relay-magnet, s . [RELAY, II.] re-lāy', v. t. [Pref. re-, and Eng. lay (q. v.).] To lay again; as, to relay a pavement. rěl-bûn, s. [The Chilian name.] The root of Calceolaria a rach no idea collected in Chili to dye woolen cloth crimson. rě-lēas-a-ble, *re-lease-a-ble, adj. [English releas(e); -able.] Capable of being released or remitted. "Such [imposts] being not release able."-Drayton: Polyolbion , s. 11. (Illust.) rě-lēase' (1), *re-lese, *re-le e, 1. t. [O. Fr. rele ier (Fr. relai er ), from Lat. relaxo =to relax (q. v.).] 1. To set loose again; to set free from restraint, confinement, or servitude; to liberate, to free, to set at liberty. "Knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?"- John xix. 10. 2. To free from pain, care, trouble, grief, or other evil. 3. To free from obligation or penalty; as, to release another from a debt. 4. To quit, to remit, to let go, as a legal claim; to discharge or relinquish as a right to lands or tenements by conveying it to another who has some right or estate in po e ion. 5. To let go, to cancel. ( Deut. xv. 2.) *6. To relax, to slacken. "It may not seem hard, if in cases of nece ity, `ertain profitable ordinances sometimes be released , rather than all men always strictly bound to the general rigor thereof."- Hooker : Eccles. Polity. re-lease (2), v. t. [Pref. re-, and Eng. lease, v. (q. v.)) To lease again or anew. rě-lease', *re-lees, *re-les, *re-lese, s. [RELEASE (1), v.] I. Ordinary Language : 1. The act of releasing, liberating, or freeing from restraint, confinement, or servitude; the state of being released; liberation. sure.