relaxern.
/rᵻˈlaksə/, U.S. /rəˈlæksər/, /riˈlæksər/ 1. A person who or thing which relaxes or loosens something.
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the world > health and disease > healing > medicines or physic > medicines for specific purpose > cleansing or expelling medicines > [noun]
mundificativea1400
mundifierc1475
mundification1580
mundicative1632
evacuative1656
relaxer1671
expeller1683
evacuatory1707
evacuator1718
rhyptic1721
abluent1726
evacuant1727
expellent1823
mundificant1842
eliminant1852
depletant1880
wash-out1955
the world > life > the body > structural parts > muscle > [noun] > muscular tension > looseness of muscles > that which aids
relaxer1870
1671 W. Salmon Synopsis Medicinæ iii. xvi. 361 Relaxers are such as loosen any member distended through cold, dryness, or repletion of wind, &c.
1700 J. Jones Myst. Opium Reveal'd ix. 54 How can so great a Relaxer of Parts, be a Constringer thereof?
1772 J. M. Adair Comm. Princ. & Pract. Physic v. x. 555 When a person is put into a warm bath..it will, in general, be a relaxer.
1870 R. Broughton Red as Rose (1878) 229 The pliant relaxer of soft limbs.
1936 Sci. News Let. 25 July 62/2 Shock and bathing in the anesthetizing bath are the muscle relaxers.
1974 H. L. Foster Ribbin', Jivin', & Playin' Dozens iv. 162 Language was used as a relaxer to enhance communication.
1989 Chicago Tribune 5 Mar. (Home) 2 His regular workouts, which include exercises to strengthen neck and back muscles, have helped alleviate a need for muscle relaxers, he said.
1996 A. Fein et al. Simpsons Comics Strike Back! 47 Oooh, this rump relaxer is just what the doctor ordered.
2. Engineering and Mathematics. A person who uses the mathematical technique of relaxation (relaxation n. 7). rare.
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the world > relative properties > number > algebra > [noun] > expression > equation > solution to > method of finding > one who applies
relaxer1946
1946 Math. Tables & Other Aids Computation 2 115 The ‘relaxer’ can make use of his knowledge of the physical nature of the problem to reduce the time required to reach the final solution.
1957 L. Fox Numerical Solution Two-point Boundary Probl. iii. 39 There are many tricks a skilled relaxer can use to accelerate the convergence of the process and generally lighten his work.
3. Hairdressing (originally U.S.). A chemical product designed to straighten or partially uncurl hair. Cf. relax v. 1e.
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1954 Chicago Defender (National ed.) 3 July 20/1 (advt.) Debony hair relaxer shampoo for ‘Kinki’ hair... Scientifically blended to soften and relax the hair.
1960 Ebony Feb. 102 (advt.) No messy..struggles with old-fashioned ‘straighteners’, ‘processors’ or ‘relaxers’!
1981 Westindian World 25 Sept. 8/1 (advt.) A complete hair care line of over twenty-one products, which include conditioners, relaxers and oil sprays.
2000 D. Adebayo My Once upon Time (2001) iii. 67 The trio had come together, really, as a support network for hair... They had discovered hotrods and relaxers together.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2009; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1671