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.
Horror . . . all his joints
relaxed.
Milton.
Nor served it to relax their serried
files.
Milton.
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.
Swift.
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.
Syn. -- To slacken; loosen; loose; remit; abate; mitigate;
ease; unbend; divert.
Re*lax", v. i. 1.
To become lax, weak, or loose; as, to let one's grasp
relax.
His knees relax with toil.
Pope.
2. To abate in severity; to become less
rigorous.
In others she relaxed again,
And governed with a looser rein.
Prior.
3. To remit attention or effort; to become
less diligent; to unbend; as, to relax in study.
Re*lax", n. Relaxation.
[Obs.] Feltham.
Re**lax", a. Relaxed; lax; hence,
remiss; careless.
