releavev.
/ˌriːˈliːv/, U.S. /riˈliv/ rare.
1. intransitive. To produce leaves again, esp. after defoliation.
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the world > plants > part of plant > leaf > plant defined by leaves > have leaves [verb (intransitive)] > grow leaves or be in leaf > again
releave1655
1655 S. Hartlib Reformed Virginian Silk-worm 21 Those trees that have their leaves pull'd off in March, April, and May, do re-leave again, and have new and fresh leaves.
1890 Rep. Crops of Year, Dec. 1889 (U.S. Dept. Agriculture) 513 Many have not ploughed up the old last-year cotton stalks..since they have re-leaved and to-day are as green and apparently as prosperous and thrifty as in July and August last.
1909 24th Ann. Rep. Maine Agric. Exper. Station 1908 339 Other reports that the trees, particularly the maple, were releaving came from various parts of Maine during late August.
2. transitive. To restore leaves to (a plant).In quots. used punningly after relieve v. The discussion from which quot. 1964 is taken refers to Chaucer Legend Good Women (c1386) (Text F) Prol. l. 128.
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1833 L. H. Sheridan Comic Offering 299 Spring is welcome to the trees, because they are releaved by its approach.
1964 A. C. Spearing Criticism & Medieval Poetry i. 9 And releved surely has a double meaning: the sun has relieved the naked trees by re-leaving them—covering them with a new dress of leaves.
2005 P. Viereck Door iii. 120 My tree's gouged bare by winter claws. It cannot be re-leaved by me. Too late to be relieved by me.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2009; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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