relinquishv.
/rᵻˈlɪŋkwɪʃ/, U.S. /rəˈlɪŋkwɪʃ/, /riˈlɪŋkwɪʃ/ 1.
a. transitive. To give up, abandon, desist from (an idea, action, practice, etc.). Also intransitive.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ceasing > cease from (an action or operation) [verb (transitive)]
aswikec975
linOE
beleavec1175
forletc1175
i-swikec1175
restc1175
stutte?c1225
lina1300
blinc1314
to give overc1325
to do wayc1350
stintc1366
finisha1375
leavea1375
yleavec1380
to leave offa1382
refuse1389
ceasec1410
resigna1413
respite?a1439
relinquish1454
surcease1464
discontinue1474
unfill1486
supersede1499
desist1509
to have ado?1515
stop1525
to lay aside1530
stay1538
quata1614
to lay away1628
sist1635
quita1642
to throw up1645
to lay by1709
to come off1715
unbuckle1736
peter1753
to knock off1767
stash1794
estop1796
stow1806
cheese1811
to chuck itc1879
douse1887
nark1889
to stop off1891
stay1894
sling1902
can1906
to lay off1908
to pack in1934
to pack up1934
to turn in1938
to break down1941
to tie a can to (or on)1942
to jack in1948
to wrap it up1949
the world > action or operation > behaviour > customary or habitual mode of behaviour > unaccustomedness or state of disuse > give up a habit or practice [verb (transitive)]
leaveeOE
forsakec1175
waive1340
twinc1386
refuse1389
to set aside1426
relinquish1454
abuse1471
renouncec1480
disaccustom1483
to break from1530
to lay aside1530
disprofess1590
dropa1616
to set bya1674
decline1679
unpractise?1680
slough1845
shake1872
sluff1934
kick1936
the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > reversal of or forsaking one's will or purpose > reverse or abandon one's purpose or intention [verb (transitive)] > desert/renounce a cause, principle, or person
withsayc960
forsakec1175
renayc1300
waive1303
to waive from1303
allayc1330
to fall from ——c1350
relinquish1454
forlesec1460
to give over1477
missake1481
return1483
guerpe1484
abrenounce1537
to turn the back uponc1540
renege1548
forspeak1565
recant1567
reject1574
abnegate1616
abrenunciate1618
derelinque1623
ejurate1623
to give one the backa1624
derelinquisha1631
ejure1642
delinquish1645
desert1654
deviate1757
to give up1970
1454 in R. R. Sharpe Cal. Let.-bks. London (1911) K. 364 (MED) Þe same suter..be comaunded..to relinquisshe and withdrawe any suche sute or accion.
1496 J. Alcock Mons Perfeccionis (de Worde) sig. dij Who so euer professith relygion & he..not relinquisshith his owne wyll [etc.].
1539 T. Warley Let. 6 July in Lisle Papers (P.R.O.: SP 3/8/41) f. 58 The busshoppe of Cantorbury..wyllid hym to declare the trothe & to Relinquisshe his opynions.
1597 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie v. lxv. 168 Touching therefore the signe and Ceremonie of the Crosse, we no way finde our selues bound to relinquish it.
1667 S. Pepys Diary 21 Jan. (1974) VIII. 23 He might be got to our side and relinquish the trouble he may give us.
1766 J. Fordyce Serm. Young Women I. i. 39 When will you relinquish delusive pursuits?
1781 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall II. xviii. 109 Alarmed by this intelligence, he hastily relinquished the siege.
1805 Med. & Physical Jrnl. 14 43 Every hope of recovery was abandoned, and her physician relinquished his attendance.
1834 H. Martineau Demerara (new ed.) ix. 123 The absent brother and sister were less willing to relinquish the hope of return.
1859 C. Dickens Let. 16 Nov. (1997) IX. 163 I altogether abandon and relinquish the idea.
1924 A. D. Sedgwick Little French Girl iv. vi. 352 She, like Toppie, had drunk tears night after night..and she, like Toppie, was built up again... For had she, too, not relinquished?
1968 Philosophy 43 10 He would seem to have relinquished the notion of self-education as the first part of morality.
1999 S. Broughton et al. World Music: Rough Guide I. i. 119/1 The Sorbs are a Slav minority around Bautzen in the southwest, long pressured to relinquish their culture.
b. transitive. To leave to another to deal with.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > delegated authority > investing with delegated authority > vest authority in a person [verb (transitive)] > commit to another to deal with
relinquish1547
repose?1548
post1563
relegate1869
1547 A. Borde Breuiary of Helthe i. Pref. f. vi Wherfore I do omyt and leue out many thynges relynquyshynge that I haue omytted to doctours of high iudgement.
1593 T. Bilson Perpetual Govt. Christes Church iii. 14 The externall regiment of the Church, the Lord declined whiles he liued here, and relinquished to others as a thing meeter for the sonnes of men, then for the sonne of God.
1654 P. Heylyn Theologia Veterum i. ii. 19 Let us relinquish to Astronomers a more exact discourse of the Stars and Planets.
1789 D. Rittenhouse tr. G. E. Lessing Lucy Sampson ii. vii. 30 Your punishment must be relinquished to some ignominious hand.
1803 J. Aikin et al. Gen. Biogr. IV. 206/1 Relinquishing to others the care of [his children's]..education and welfare, he became a member of the society of Jesus in 1548.
1843 Pennsylvania Jrnl. Prison Discipline & Philanthropy 1 226 The nature of the revelations these inquiries brought to light obliged me to relinquish the work to those whose more immediate duty it is to bring about a reformation.
1893 Times 28 May 11/4 The Church..must relinquish the task to the State and to the compulsory principle.
1973 Business Hist. Rev. 47 285 After service of a year in charge of construction, James J. Hill relinquished the task to a man of his own choice.
2001 N.Y. Rev. Bks. 21 June 49/4 Eisner..relinquished much of the work on these episodes to Jules Feiffer, who wrote the scripts and plotted them in rough sketches.
c. transitive. To withdraw support from (a candidate). rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > refusal > [verb (transitive)] > reject > deselect or withdraw support from
relinquisha1797
deselect1968
a1797 H. Walpole Mem. George II (1822) I. 388 He..offered to omit the primate, provided Lord Kildare would..offer to relinquish the Speaker too.
1872 Chicago Tribune 19 Apr. 4/7 A very large portion of the intellectual and reputable Republican vote, which might otherwise hesitate about relinquishing the candidate of the Philadelphia Convention.
1987 Inter Press Service (Nexis) 10 June If neither Venezuela nor Saudi Arabia can be persuaded to relinquish their candidates, the remaining possibilities are those of finding a compromise candidate.., or abiding by the current status quo.
2. transitive. To withdraw from, abandon, give up (a person or occasionally an animal).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > reversal of or forsaking one's will or purpose > reverse or abandon one's purpose or intention [verb (transitive)] > desert or deny a person
forsakea1300
refusec1350
nitec1390
swerve1390
relinquish1472
relinque1483
renounce1582
to fling off1587
derelicta1631
relapse1633
plant1743
to throw over1835
chuck up (the sponge)1878
ditch1899
ruck1903
to run out on1912
to walk out1921
squib1938
1472–3 Rolls of Parl.: Edward IV (Electronic ed.) Parl. Oct. 1472 1st Roll §22. m. 26 He myght have enjoyed his lyvelode and goodes, yf he wold have relinquyst and departed fro youre moost noble persone.
c1500 Melusine (1895) 262 That he was not parfytte frend, who that relenquysshed hys cousyn at hys nede.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Edward IV f. ccxviij The erle of Warwicke..was now aduised by the Marques his brother, to relynquishe his horse.
1549 Forme & Maner consecratyng Archebishoppes sig. C.iij I from hencefurthe shall vtterly renounce, refuse, relinquishe, and forsake the Bishop of Rome.
a1616 W. Shakespeare All's Well that ends Well (1623) ii. iii. 10 To be relinquisht of the Artists,..Of all the learned and authenticke fellowes..That gaue him out incureable.
1655 R. Fanshawe tr. L. de Camoens Lusiad vi. lxxxii. 132 Why, in the Close, doest thou relinquish us? Why, throw us off, after such scapes as These.
1670 J. Milton Hist. Brit. vi. 271 He had first relinquisht, then extinguisht Edmund.
a1720 J. Brereton Poems (1744) 54 Amuse yourself among the Fair; Where for one Moggy you distinguish, You vow you'd all the Sex relinquish.
a1796 R. Burns Jolly Beggars (1799) 10 He swoor..To speet him like a pliver, Unless he wou'd from that time forth, Relinquish her for ever.
1842 R. H. Wilde Conjectures & Res. Torquato Tasso I. iv. 122 She continued to be ‘his lady’ in 1570, and he could not have relinquished her in 1569.
1866 Quiver 17 Mar. 406/2 Loth was he, no doubt, to relinquish him whom he had just snatched from such an awful bondage.
1911 Los Angeles Times 21 Dec. ii. 1/2 With the young American naval man of her own choice standing beside her, she cried..that though her life pay the penalty she would not relinquish him.
2008 Chicago Tribune 21 Feb. (Midwest Final ed.) ii. 7/4 [She]..relinquished a daughter for adoption 40 years ago and still grieves that decision.
3. transitive. To give up, resign, surrender (a possession, right, etc.). Also with to.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > relinquishing > relinquish or give up [verb (transitive)]
forsakec893
forlet971
to reach upOE
agiveOE
yield?c1225
uptake1297
up-yield1297
yield1297
deliverc1300
to-yielda1375
overgivec1384
grant1390
forbeara1400
livera1400
forgoc1400
upgive1415
permit1429
quit1429
renderc1436
relinquish1479
abandonc1485
to hold up?1499
enlibertyc1500
surrender1509
cess1523
relent1528
to cast up?1529
resignate1531
uprender1551
demit1563
disclaim1567
to fling up1587
to give up1589
quittance1592
vail1593
enfeoff1598
revoke1599
to give off1613
disownc1620
succumb1632
abdicate1633
delinquish1645
discount1648
to pass away1650
to turn off1667
choke1747
to jack up1870
chuck up (the sponge)1878
chuckc1879
unget1893
sling1902
to jack in1948
punt1966
to-leave-
1479 Earl Rivers tr. Cordyal (Caxton) iii. iii Riche and myghty folkes were conuerted by his predicacion, and relinquisshed alle their worldly richesses.
1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. cccclvjv They wyll not relinquishe theyr Byshoprike.
1566 J. Barthlet Pedegrewe Heretiques f. 29 In the case of the Decretall the woman consented to relinquishe the right.
1612 J. Davies Discouerie Causes Ireland 30 The english Lords..placed Irish Tenants vppon the Landes relinquished by the English.
1683 Britanniæ Speculum 129 King Lucius..is said to have relinquished his Crown, and passed over into Bavaria.
a1727 I. Newton Short. Chron. 1st Memory in Chronol. Anc. Kingdoms Amended (1728) 36 Sabacon, after a Reign of 50 years, relinquishes Egypt to his son.
1782 F. Burney Cecilia I. i. i. 5 The Deanery, indeed, she was obliged to relinquish.
1813 Duke of Wellington Dispatches (1838) X. 565 They know my disinclination to relinquish the command.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. ii. 202 He consented..to relinquish a large part of the territory which his armies had occupied.
1874 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People viii. §5. 517 An offer to relinquish ship-money failed to draw Parliament from its resolve.
1920 S. Webb & B. Webb Hist. Trade Unionism 366 By ‘contracting out’ was meant an arrangement between employer and employed by which the latter relinquish the rights conferred upon them by the Act.
1975 Countryman Autumn 43 Retrenchment was essential and the two farms my father had rented for my elder brothers had to be relinquished.
2001 A. Taylor Death's Own Door (2002) xxxviii. 284 Yes, most men have retired by the time they have reached his age. I daresay he will soon consider relinquishing some of his responsibilities.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > relinquishing > casting or laying aside > [verb (transitive)] > leave (behind)
let971
beleavec1175
forletc1200
agoc1275
to leave behindc1330
relinquish1548
the mind > possession > relinquishing > casting or laying aside > [verb (transitive)] > leave (behind) > in fleeing
relinquish1548
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry V f. lx Thei within could haue no way out ether to inuade their enemies (or if they could) to depart and relinquishe their fortresse and cytie.
1582 R. Stanyhurst tr. Virgil First Foure Bookes Æneis iii. 53 Thee Pheacan turrets foorth with from sight we relinquish [L. absondimus].
1598 A. M. tr. J. Guillemeau Frenche Chirurg. Apol. Chirurgians f. 51/1 All diseases..relinquish some badde reliques in the parte, wherthrough they may the easyer returne agayne.
1679 J. Smith Narr. Popish-plot Ded. sig. Bv To render your People happy while you live, and relinquish them safe when you dye.
5. transitive. To cancel, annul (a legal document). Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > memory > effacement, obliteration > cancellation, revocation > annul, cancel, revoke [verb (transitive)]
fordoOE
allayOE
withdrawc1290
withclepe13..
again-callc1390
to call againc1390
repealc1390
revokec1400
unmakec1400
rive1415
annulc1425
abroge1427
uncommandc1430
discharge?a1439
retreatc1443
retract1501
cancela1513
abrogate?1520
dissolve1526
extinct1531
rescind1531
abrenounce1537
infringe1543
recall1565
unwrite1577
extinguish1590
exauctorate1593
relinquish1594
unact1594
to strike off1597
undecide1601
unpass1606
to take off1609
to draw back1610
reclaim1615
to put back1616
abrenunciate1618
unrip1622
supersedeate1641
to set off1642
unassure1643
unorder1648
to ask away1649
disdetermine1651
unbespeak1661
undecree1667
reassumea1675
off-break1702
circumduct1726
raise1837
resiliate1838
denounce1841
disorder1852
pull1937
1594 W. West Symbolæogr.: 2nd Pt. ii. Chancerie §118 [He] doth threaten your foresaid Orator, that he may at his pleasure relinquish and disanull the beforesaid last Will and Testament.
1786 App. India Courier Extraordinary I. 189 If the Surgeon General shall not consent to relinquish the contract, nor actually cancel the deed..forbear to pay him any other salary or emolument on the Company's account.
1819 W. Johnson Rep. Court of Chancery N.-Y. 3 14 The deed of the 7th of February, 1811, if of any force, was relinquished and annulled by the mutual consent of the parties.
1858 Amer. Railway Times 20 Feb. 2/2 They made arrangements with the contractors to relinquish and annul the contract.
1938 Proc. 29th Ann. Convent. Rotary Internat. 505 Their membership was officially terminated as of the 18th of March, 1938, and their charters relinquished and voided.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > invisibility > be or become invisible [verb (intransitive)] > vanish or disappear
formeltc893
wendOE
witea1000
aworthc1000
fleec1200
fleetc1200
withdraw1297
vanish1303
voidc1374
unkithea1400
startc1405
disappearc1425
disparishc1425
to fall awayc1443
evanish?a1475
vade1495
sinka1500
vade1530
fly1535
fadea1538
melt?1567
dispear1600
relinquish1601
foist1603
dispersea1616
to vanish (melt, etc.) into thin aira1616
dissipate1626
retire1647
evaporate1713
merge1802
illude1820
to foam off1826
dislimn1833
furl1844
to step out1844
evanesce1855
shade1880
wisp1883
to go to the winds1884
walk1898
to do a disappearing act1913
to go west1916
to do (or take) a fade1949
to phase out1970
1601 B. Jonson Fountaine of Selfe-love iv. i. sig. G3 Ile ensure you, they will all relinquish; they cannot endure aboue another yeere. View more context for this quotation
7. transitive. To relieve (a person) of an obligation, fear, etc.Rare before the mid 20th cent.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > lack of subjection > freedom or liberty > liberation > set free [verb (transitive)]
freeeOE
letc1000
alithOE
areim-ena1250
alaskic1300
fritha1325
loose1340
unfetterc1374
to let goc1384
releasec1384
freitha1400
to let farea1400
assoil1401
remit1467
affranchise1477
resplaitc1531
discussa1542
freedom1548
to set (go, walk, etc.) free1609
re-enfranchise1611
unhook1611
unloose1614
liberate1623
disenfranchise1626
assert1638
relinquish1671
uncork1749
unfankle1824
1671 R. Montagu in Buccleuch MSS (Hist. MSS Comm.) (1899) I. 503 He did relinquish him of his promise of sending any land forces.
1687 R. L'Estrange tr. M. de Cervantes in Spanish Decameron 102 Then Marcellus imbraced Francisco, and the Duke, Don Bernardo, returning then thanks for this happy News, and relinquishing them of their Fears.
1974 O. B. Egbuna Emperor of Sea 110 For many moons, I have prayed that a man will turn up who will relinquish me of that burden.
1981 Atlanta (Georgia) Daily World 19 May 3/6 Several incumbents of the Atlanta City Council are faced with individuals who desire to relinquish them of their duties as legislators of city government.
2007 L. Levitt Amer. Jewish Loss after Holocaust 194 It is as if simply telling another story.., we are somehow letting the Germans off the hook, relinquishing them of responsibility.
8.
a. transitive. To let go of (something held).
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > absence of movement > hold or holding > releasing hold > let go (something held or grasped) [verb (transitive)]
beleavea1250
leta1325
to let goc1384
to leave hold1556
to turn loose?1566
quita1586
unhand1603
relinquish1651
unseize1663
unfist1692
to leave go1776
unclasp1868
to loose hold1875
1651 N. Biggs Matæotechnia Medicinæ Praxeωs 94 By and by she [sc. the digestion] relinquisheth (that is precipitates) the pouder, which before she had dissolved under her own acidity.
1769 W. Tooke Loves of Othniel & Achsah II. iv. 40 For the first time, he relinquished thy hand, o fair Chaldean!
1850 A. Jameson Legends Monastic Orders 300 St. Antony holds in his arms the Infant Christ, whom the Virgin, above, appears to have just relinquished.
1865 C. Dickens Our Mutual Friend II. iii. xv. 137 He once more put her hand to his lips, and then relinquished it.
1939 PMLA 54 1173 Rilke was not ready to relinquish his guiding hand while he still felt unsure of himself.
1999 Oregonian (Portland, Oregon) (Nexis) 4 May a01 On the playground at the wall-ball court, a second-grader holds onto the ball after losing a point. ‘Are you being respectful?’ a classmate asks. The poor sport relinquishes the ball without further prompting.
b. transitive. To release (one's grip, hold, etc.). Also figurative.
ΚΠ
1678 N. Wanley Wonders Little World i. xxiv. §28. 39/2 He gave the other part of it [sc. a rope] to four strong men to pull against him; but..he would give them such girds..that..they were forced to relinquish their hold.
1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones II. v. xii. 215 Jones, who had hitherto held this lovely Burthen in his Arms, now relinquished his Hold.
1803 M. Hays Female Biogr. IV. 28 The chill hand of poverty relinquished its grasp.
1869 Amer. Naturalist 3 258 He suddenly relinquished his hold upon my hands and dropped to the sand.
1940 K. Roberts Oliver Wiswell xxv. 223 James relinquished his grip on his chair arm.
1994 Today's Parent Oct. 63/1 It [sc. a bedtime ritual] persuades a preschooler to relinquish her hold on today.
2001 J. T. Hallinan Going up River xiii. 156 The pick slams into the vest with a menacing whunk! and the man relinquishes his grip with a queasy smile.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2009; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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