Relax
Relax (r?-l?ks") , transitive verb
[Latin relaxare; pref. re- re- + laxare to loose, to slacken, from laxus loose. See Lax, and compare 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.
Horror... all his joints relaxed.
Nor served it to relax their serried files.
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.
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.
Relax , intransitive verb
1.
To become lax, weak, or loose; as, to let one's grasp relax.
His knees relax with toil.
2.
To abate in severity; to become less rigorous.
In others she relaxed again,
And governed with a looser rein.
3.
To remit attention or effort; to become less diligent; to unbend; as, to relax in study.
Relax , noun
Relaxation. [Obsolete] — Feltham
Relax , adjective
Relaxed; lax; hence, remiss; careless.