relentn.
/rᵻˈlɛnt/, U.S. /rəˈlɛnt/, /riˈlɛnt/ The action or an act of relenting; giving way, softening, yielding; (also) remission or slackening of force or speed. Chiefly in negative constructions, esp. without relent. Cf. relentless adj., relentlessly adv.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > rate of motion > [noun] > decreasing rate of movement or progress
relent1580
slowing1598
slowing up1868
slowing down1870
slow-up1874
slowdown1882
deceleration1897
slack1899
slow1954
the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > reversal of or forsaking one's will or purpose > [noun]
reversec1487
retraction1536
relent1580
declension1597
relentance1629
resentment1646
intercision1647
relenting1694
back-down1862
backing-down1883
back-pedalling1950
step-down1973
1580 J. Bell tr. J. Foxe Pope Confuted f. 9v Ye seeme ready bent to..cut all our heads from our shoulders... The stay wherof surely proceded not of any relent of your crueltie.
1596 E. Spenser Second Pt. Faerie Queene v. vii. sig. S2 She forward went..Ne rested till she came without relent Vnto the land of Amazons. View more context for this quotation
1616 W. Forde Serm. 40 If vertue, if pietie, could worke any relent in death.
1686 J. Goad Astro-meteorologica i. xii. 56 Those [days] which are absolutely Cold and Freezing, without the least Sign of Relent or Yielding.
1785 G. Wallace Nature & Descent Peerages (ed. 2) i. ii. 61 Advantages, which offered and were tempting, were constantly seized, and improved without any relent.
1858 Christian Examiner Nov. 398 The iron sway Of hard necessity, still drives along the miserable mortal throng..without relent.
1860 Ironsides II. iv. 86 She disappeared through the gloomy portal without any sign of relent, and presently the wheels of the heavy family coach were heard rolling slowly away.
1929 Daily Express 7 Nov. 14/2 The pitilessly-moving wheel, creaking and quivering, swung him slowly upwards, without relent.
2008 Patriot Ledger (Quincy, Mass.) (Nexis) 28 July (Sports section) 14 With no sign of relent from the weather, the game was suspended.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2009; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
† relentadj.
Obsolete. rare.
Loosened, loose; (also) softened. Cf. relent v.1 3.
ΚΠ
tr. Palladius De re Rustica (Duke Humfrey) (1896) iv. 928 The bee..On titymalle and elmes gynneth pike, That bitter be, wherof anoon relent Ther wombes are.
1519 W. Horman Vulgaria 104v This water is relent fro Froste.
?a1525 (c1450) Christ's Burial & Resurrection i. 620 in F. J. Furnivall Digby Plays (1896) 192 Who shall gife me water sufficient,..That I may wepe my fill with hart relent?
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2009; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
relentv.1
/rᵻˈlɛnt/, U.S. /rəˈlɛnt/, /riˈlɛnt/ 1.
a. intransitive. To melt under the influence of heat; to assume a liquid form; to dissolve into water. Also figurative (cf. sense 3). Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > liquid > making or becoming liquid > become liquid [verb (intransitive)]
flowc825
uncrud1398
uncurd1398
relentc1405
resolvec1450
liquefy1583
colliquate1646
flux1669
liquatea1728
liquesce1831
liquidize1969
c1405 (c1395) G. Chaucer Canon's Yeoman's Tale (Ellesmere) (1875) G. §4. l. 1278 He stired the coles til relente [c1415 Lansd. relent] gan The wex agayn the fir.
c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) ii. 5077 (MED) Appollo..On hillis hiȝe gan his bemys smyte, Makyng þe snow..In-to water kyndely relente.
c1450 (?c1408) J. Lydgate Reson & Sensuallyte (1901) 4179 The wexe with hete wil relente.
?a1525 (c1450) Christ's Burial & Resurrection i. 153 in F. J. Furnivall Digby Plays (1896) 177 To haue seyn hir, a harte of stone, For ruthe wald haue relente.
a1550 ( G. Ripley Compend of Alchemy (Bodl. e Mus.) f. 47 (MED) Beholde howe watter of isse dothe relent, And so it muste, for water it was afore.
c1595 Countess of Pembroke Psalme cxlvii. 54 in Coll. Wks. (1998) II. 250 Yce in water flowes,..The streames relenting take their wonted way.
1653 H. More Antidote against Atheisme iii. xiii. 160 Were those Musical Accents frozen there for a time, and..the aire relenting and thawing became so harmoniously vocall?
1670 W. Clarke Nat. Hist. Nitre 84 The Coal keepeth the Nitre very dry, that it may not relent and moisten by the Air.
1709 A. Pope Spring in Poet. Misc.: 6th Pt. 728 All Nature mourns, the Skies relent in Show'rs.
1765 M. Morris in Philos. Trans. 1764 (Royal Soc.) 54 174 On leaving it exposed to the air, the brown matter attracted moisture from it and relented into a thick brown liquour.
1785 W. Cowper Tirocinium in Task 112 Preserved from guilt by salutary fears, Or guilty, soon relenting into tears. View more context for this quotation
1826 N.-Y. Med. & Physical Jrnl. 5 194 (note) Recent salt is..subject to great waste during its conveyance to any distance, as it relents in a moist air.
b. intransitive. To become soft or moist; (also, of colours) to fade. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > quality of colour > [verb (intransitive)] > become faint
wanec1000
fade13..
faint1430
vade1471
languish?1510
relent1531
the world > matter > constitution of matter > softness > types of softness > [verb (intransitive)] > become soft and moist
relent1531
1531 T. Elyot Bk. named Gouernour iii. xviii. sig. eij The colours beynge nat suerly wrought,..by moystnesse of wether relenteth or fadeth.
1573 T. Tusser Fiue Hundreth Points Good Husbandry (new ed.) f. 26 Both saltfish and lingfish..from rotting go saue. Least winter with moistnes, do make it relent.
1594 H. Plat Diuers Chimicall Concl. Distillation 32 in Jewell House Keepe these leaues..neere a chimney, or stoue, least otherwise by the damp of the aier they relent again.
1620 G. Markham Farwell to Husbandry xiv. 120 Beans after they are once dried..neuer after will thawe, giue againe or relent.
1676 J. Evelyn Philos. Disc. Earth 63 Substances, which are not..the hard and dry Cinders of Sea-coal..but such as is apt to relent.
1764 Museum Rusticum July in Sel. Ess. Husb. (1767) 52 [Marle]..soon relents after rain, and, when dry, slackens like lime.
1831 M. Seoane Neuman & Baretti's Dict. Sp. & Eng. Langs. (ed. 5) I. 715/1 Relentucér... To be softened, to relent and soften by the falling of the dew.
c. intransitive. To grow less tense or rigid, to relax. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > posture > action of placing or holding body in relaxed posture > place or hold body in relaxed posture [verb (intransitive)]
loll1377
lollop1745
relent1745
lounge1746
unwind1938
plotz1941
untense1970
1745 Philos. Trans. 1744–5 (Royal Soc.) 43 97 As the plant comes nearer to its decay this filament relents, [and] falls down close to the sides of the caulis.
1854 S. T. Dobell Balder xxiv. 172 The painful limbs contract with pangs, Relented.
2. transitive. To dissolve, melt, or soften. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > constitution of matter > softness > types of softness > [verb (transitive)] > make soft and moist
relent?a1425
grease1883
?a1425 MS Hunterian 95 f. 152v (MED) Sette hem ouer a charecole fire and lette hem seeþe to alle þi þingis be wele meddelde & wele relented.
tr. Palladius De re Rustica (Duke Humfrey) (1896) iii. 1142 (MED) In water first this opium relent, Of sape vntil hit ha similitude.
c1475 ( Surg. Treat. in MS Wellcome 564 f. 121 (MED) Putte hem in a panne & boile hem togidere and..þanne putte þerto hony & wex relentid togidere.
1509 S. Hawes Conuercyon Swerers (de Worde) xl Lyke as Phebus dothe the snowe relente.
a1549 A. Borde Fyrst Bk. Introd. Knowl. (1870) 147 Butter is good meate, it doth relent the gall.
1617 J. Woodall Surgions Mate 41 This Emplaster..dissolued or relented with oyle of roses, of elders [etc.].
1661 R. Lovell Πανζωορυκτολογια, sive Panzoologicomineralogia 50 Fractures..may be helped by Calves glue, relented in water.
1732 G. Smith Institutiones Chirurgicæ i. vi. 93 A common Digestive prepared of Basilicon relented in Oil of Lillies or some other emollient Oil.
II. Extended uses.† 6. intransitive. To give up one's life, to die. Obsolete. rare.† 7. To repent, lament.
3. To soften.† b. transitive. To soften (the heart, mind, etc.); to cause (a person) to soften. Obsolete.
a. intransitive. To soften, to grow more gentle or forgiving; to abandon or mitigate a severe or harsh attitude, especially by finally yielding to a request. Now the most common sense.†Formerly also with infinitive (quot. 1604).
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > lack of strictness > become less strict or severe [verb (intransitive)]
relentc1475
relax1688
the mind > emotion > compassion > feel pity or compassion [verb (intransitive)] > have mercy > relent
relentc1475
c1475 (?a1440) B. Burgh Distichs of Cato (Rawl. C.48) l. 781 in Archiv f. das Studium der Neueren Sprachen (1905) 115 322 For suche wepyng thyne hert auhte nat relente.
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection iii. sig. UUUvi It myght nat swage the malice of the Iewes, ne cause their hertes to relent.
1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. clxiij Nothyng relentynge of their wonted rygour.
1594 W. Shakespeare Titus Andronicus ii. iii. 165 I powrd forth teares in vaine,..But fearce Andronicus would not relent . View more context for this quotation
1604 F. Bacon Apol. in Wks. (1879) I. 436/2 If she once relented to send or visit, those demonstrations would prove matter of substance for my lord's good.
1631 R. Bolton Instr. Right Comf. Affl. Consciences 226 Hee seemes now, when Hee sees His misery to relent, and to bee toucht with remorse.
1671 J. Milton Samson Agonistes 509 Perhaps God will relent, and quit thee all his debt. View more context for this quotation
1713 A. Pope Ode Musick 6 Stern Proserpine relented, And gave him back the Fair.
1788 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall IV. xlv. 430 The conqueror paused and relented.
1817 P. B. Shelley Laon & Cythna iv. xxii. 86 Her foes relenting turn, And cast the vote of love.
1882 ‘Ouida’ In Maremma I. 25 The carabinier on his right side, relenting, held the wine towards his mouth.
1930 ‘E. M. Delafield’ Diary Provinc. Lady 127 Cook relents, so far as to say that she will stay until I am suited.
1988 New Q. (Canada) Winter 14 He sat on their doorstep the better part of three days,..until Erie finally relented and let him in.
2004 H. Kennedy Just Law (2005) iii. 83 After much haggling the government relented and the trial judge will remain the final arbiter.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > compassion > quality of exciting pity > affect with pity [verb (transitive)]
rueOE
movea1325
enpitec1400
relent1509
pity1515
yearn1603
melt1605
bowel1645
tenderize1733
the mind > emotion > aspects of emotion > capacity for emotion > sensitiveness or tenderness > become (more) sensitive or tender [verb (intransitive)] > specifically of the heart
softc1300
relent1509
allay1723
1509 S. Hawes Pastime of Pleasure (1928) xxxii. 159 These men..A maydens herte coude ryght soone relente.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene iii. vi. sig. Hh6 Yet pitty often did the gods relent.
c1614 W. Mure tr. Virgil Dido & Æneas ii. in Wks. (1898) I. 543 How dar he this his enterprise reveale To furiows Dido? how her minde relent?
1646 W. Prynne Canterburies Doome Ep. Ded. sig. bv The blood of the bodies of divers thousands shed..by our unhappy Warrs..might have been prevalent enough to relent his Adamantine heart.
1787 R. Burns in J. Johnson Scots Musical Museum I. 79 Were Fortune lovely Peggy's foe, Such sweetness would relent her.
1821 Ann. Rep. (Soc. Supp. Gaelic Schools) 22 Next morning he with kisses and tears, relented her so much, that she could not keep the book any longer from him.
4. To yield.
a. intransitive. To yield, give way; to give up a previous resolution, obstinacy, or course of action. Also with †to someone or something, from a position, purpose, etc. Now rare except as passing into sense 3a.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > reversal of or forsaking one's will or purpose > reverse or abandon one's purpose [verb (intransitive)]
wendOE
divert1430
to turn one's tale1525
relent1528
revolt1540
resile?a1597
crinkle1612
to throw in (or up) one's cards1688
to box the compass1714
to turn round1808
crawfish1848
to back down1849
duff1883
back-pedal1891
punk1920
back-track1947
to back off1961
1528 S. Gardiner in N. Pocock Rec. Reformation (1870) I. 115 We do not yet relent, but stick still to have the Commission after the first form.
1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. xxxj If thou wylte perseuer thus obstinatlye in thine opinion, and not relent, the Emperour wyll bannishe thee.
c1571 E. Campion Two Bks. Hist. Ireland (1963) ii. v. 91 His owne man..began to reprove him for not relenting to so riche a proffer.
1589 G. Puttenham Arte Eng. Poesie iii. xxiv. 246 Princes..must be suffred to haue the victorie and be relented vnto.
1624 R. Burton Anat. Melancholy (ed. 2) ii. iii. vii. 288 Two refractory spirits will never agree, the onely meanes to ouercome is to relent.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost vi. 790 To convince the proud what Signs availe, Or Wonders move th' obdurate to relent ? View more context for this quotation
1717 D. Defoe Mem. Church of Scotl. iii. 288 The Episcopal Party never abated or relented;..but went on as long as they had Power.
1771 Ann. Reg. 1770 129/2 Conoway at first refused to plead, but being taken down and shewn the apparatus for pressing him to death, if he refused, he relented.
1797 A. Geddes Battle of B—ng—r vi. 47 From your dire purpose, then, relent, relent!
1833 Museum of Foreign Lit. Oct. 380/2 Having once taken the resolution of deserting his family principles, he assuredly never relented.
1855 E. C. Gaskell North & South I. vii. 96 The landlord..had relented from his expressed determination not to repaper.
1917 Times 23 July 4 Scotland..would not cease or relent from waging war until the wrongs which brought her manhood to the field had received..satisfaction.
1955 Sci. Amer. Oct. 103/1 Until Maupertuis's death in 1759 Voltaire did not relent in his flood of unmerciful, unscrupulous and myopic ridicule.
b. transitive. To relinquish, abandon, give up (something, esp. a resolution, course of action, etc.).In later examples coloured by sense 3a.
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-
1528 J. Foxe in J. Strype Eccl. Memorials (1721) I. App. xxvi. 81 After iij or iiij congresses ye see no likelihode..to relent and cesse your suit.
1556 J. Heywood Spider & Flie liii. 40 To here him speak, ere he his life should relent.
1565 T. Stapleton tr. Bede Hist. Church Eng. ii. v. f. 54v After the death of their father they began..openlie to folowe idolatrie, which while their father liued, they seemed somewhat to have relented.
1586 A. Day Eng. Secretorie i. sig. K7v The disgrace that quickly you shall sustaine, if betimes you relent not these euilles.
1682 J. Graham in M. Morris Life (1888) vi. 93 [The king] was relenting nothing of his..care of maintaining the established government.
1684 J. Bunyan Pilgrim's Progress 2nd Pt. 199 There's no Discouragement, Shall make him once Relent, His first avow'd Intent. View more context for this quotation
?1719 M. Davies Clergyman's-Post No. 3, in Athenæ Britannicæ IV Withers..had so much more honesty and Religion, as to relent and abandon his dangerous Arianizing undertaking.
1848 Hansard Commons 16 Feb. 710 If that House relented its firm purpose, or refused to throw out this Bill.
1860 Harper's Mag. May 785/1 Through the evening she never relented her chosen calm.
1979 Times 19 Nov. vii She [sc. Mary Pickford] was persuaded to relent her former resolution to destroy all her films.
2001 J. Rollo-Koster in C. J. Drees Late Med. Age of Crisis 42 [The anti-pope Benedict XIII] never relented his position nor his conviction that he was the rightful pope.
5. To make or become less intense.† a. transitive. To lessen; to slacken, abate (speed, force, etc.). Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > lack of violence, severity, or intensity > make less violent or severe [verb (transitive)]
temperc1000
keelc1175
slakea1300
abate?c1335
settle1338
swagea1340
modifyc1385
rebatea1398
bate1398
moder1414
releasea1425
remiss?a1425
moderate1435
alethe?1440
delaya1450
appal1470
addulce1477
mollify1496
mean?a1513
relent1535
qualify1536
temperatea1540
aplake1578
slack1589
relaxate1598
milden1603
mitigate1611
relax1612
alleniate1615
allay1628
alloy1634
castigate1653
smoothen1655
tendera1656
mitify1656
meeken1662
remitigate1671
obviscate1684
slacken1685
chastise1704
dulcify1744
absorb1791
demulceate1817
chasten1856
modulate1974
mediate1987
1535 D. Lindsay Satyre 391 I am bot schent, Without scho cum,..My heauie langour to relent.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene ii. xi. sig. Z3 Oftentimes he would relent his pace, That him his foe more fiercely should poursew.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene iii. iv. sig. Ff6v Nothing might relent her hasty flight.
1613 W. Cowper Seuen Dayes Conf. 60 After it was when God relented the persecution.
1755 J. Marriott in R. Dodsley Coll. Poems (new ed.) IV. 289 The cruel Fates their rage relented, And mama Venus had consented.
1832 C. MacFarlane Romance of Hist.: Italy I. 80 Presently the fleet of Di Loria were seen to lower their sails, to close with each other, to relent their speed.
b. intransitive. Of (now usually negative) passion or emotion: to abate, become less forceful or intense; to cool.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > absence of emotion > lack sensitivity [verb (intransitive)] > grow cold > specifically of love
relentc1560
c1560 T. Ingelend Disobedient Child C iij b As for my loue yt doth neuer relente, For of you I do dreame.
1673 R. Baxter Christian Directory iv. ii. 24 If Christians behaved themselves with that eminent Love..as their Lord hath taught them..perhaps the very cruelty and malice of their enemies would abate and relent.
1702 tr. M.-C. d'Aulnoy Mem. Court France i. 23 This Discourse had the desired effect; the King's Anger relented.
1839 S. Prentiss in Congr. Globe 8 (Appendix) 383/1 It was sure to bring down upon his head the rage which never relented.
1892 Times 4 June 6/6 Bismarck's hostility never relented towards him.
1986 W. McKane Crit. & Exegetical Comm. Jeremiah ii. 61 She [sc. Israel] makes an appeal to Yahweh for old time's sake and she expects his anger to relent.
c. intransitive. Of some natural element (as heat, cold, etc.): to become less severe or intense.Sometimes in personifications.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > be cold [verb (intransitive)] > become cold > cool
coolOE
relent1589
aslake1810
defervesce1859
1589 J. Rider Bibliotheca Scholastica 1206 To Relent as heate, tepesco.
1670 W. Temple Poems 6 Cover thy lovely armes; The Northern cold relents not at their charms.
1702 Hist. France to 1702 II. ix. ii. 707 The Cold..lasted above two Months, without relenting in the lest Degree.
1837 S. C. Coleridge Phantasmion iv. ii. 347 Having impelled it far into mid-ocean the wind relented, but rose again as often as the skiff approached the shore.
1882 Cent. Mag. June 185/1 Nature relented a little..and sent them sunny days for their late, scant harvesting.
1947 Abilene (Texas) Reporter-News 5 Sept. 1/4 (headline) Heat relents, but crops already hurt.
1966 Times 30 July 7/4 At night, when the heat relents slightly, much of Japan becomes a summer fiesta.
1985 Globe & Mail (Toronto) (Nexis) 27 June As soon as the weather relented long enough to permit some uninterrupted tennis, Wimbledon produced a bombshell result.
2001 Guardian 26 Apr. ii. 2/1 Even if the driving snow and rain were to relent enough to let an aeroplane land,..wingflaps and propellors would cease to operate.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > death > [verb (intransitive)]
forsweltc888
sweltc888
adeadeOE
deadc950
wendeOE
i-wite971
starveOE
witea1000
forfereOE
forthfareOE
forworthc1000
to go (also depart , pass, i-wite, chare) out of this worldOE
queleOE
fallOE
to take (also nim, underfo) (the) deathOE
to shed (one's own) blood?a1100
diec1135
endc1175
farec1175
to give up the ghostc1175
letc1200
aswelta1250
leavea1250
to-sweltc1275
to-worthc1275
to yield (up) the ghost (soul, breath, life, spirit)c1290
finea1300
spilla1300
part?1316
to leese one's life-daysa1325
to nim the way of deathc1325
to tine, leave, lose the sweatc1330
flit1340
trance1340
determinec1374
disperisha1382
to go the way of all the eartha1382
to be gathered to one's fathers1382
miscarryc1387
shut1390
goa1393
to die upa1400
expirea1400
fleea1400
to pass awaya1400
to seek out of lifea1400–50
to sye hethena1400
tinea1400
trespass14..
espirec1430
to end one's days?a1439
decease1439
to go away?a1450
ungoc1450
unlivec1450
to change one's lifea1470
vade1495
depart1501
to pay one's debt to (also the debt of) naturea1513
to decease this world1515
to go over?1520
jet1530
vade1530
to go westa1532
to pick over the perch1532
galpa1535
to die the death1535
to depart to God1548
to go home1561
mort1568
inlaikc1575
shuffle1576
finish1578
to hop (also tip, pitch over, drop off, etc.) the perch1587
relent1587
unbreathe1589
transpass1592
to lose one's breath1596
to make a die (of it)1611
to go offa1616
fail1623
to go out1635
to peak over the percha1641
exita1652
drop1654
to knock offa1657
to kick upa1658
to pay nature her due1657
ghost1666
to march off1693
to die off1697
pike1697
to drop off1699
tip (over) the perch1699
to pass (also go, be called, etc.) to one's reward1703
sink1718
vent1718
to launch into eternity1719
to join the majority1721
demise1727
to pack off1735
to slip one's cable1751
turf1763
to move off1764
to pop off the hooks1764
to hop off1797
to pass on1805
to go to glory1814
sough1816
to hand in one's accounts1817
to slip one's breatha1819
croak1819
to slip one's wind1819
stiffen1820
weed1824
buy1825
to drop short1826
to fall (a) prey (also victim, sacrifice) to1839
to get one's (also the) call1839
to drop (etc.) off the hooks1840
to unreeve one's lifeline1840
to step out1844
to cash, pass or send in one's checks1845
to hand in one's checks1845
to go off the handle1848
to go under1848
succumb1849
to turn one's toes up1851
to peg out1852
walk1858
snuff1864
to go or be up the flume1865
to pass outc1867
to cash in one's chips1870
to go (also pass over) to the majority1883
to cash in1884
to cop it1884
snuff1885
to belly up1886
perch1886
to kick the bucket1889
off1890
to knock over1892
to pass over1897
to stop one1901
to pass in1904
to hand in one's marble1911
the silver cord is loosed1911
pip1913
to cross over1915
conk1917
to check out1921
to kick off1921
to pack up1925
to step off1926
to take the ferry1928
peg1931
to meet one's Maker1933
to kiss off1935
to crease it1959
zonk1968
cark1977
to cark it1979
to take a dirt nap1981
1587 J. Higgins Mirour for Magistrates (new ed.) Albanacte lv My father..Perceau'd hee must by sicknesse last relent.
a. transitive. To repent (an action, etc.). Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > virtue > righteousness or rectitude > reform, amendment, or correction > repentance or contrition > repent (sin, wrongdoing, etc.) [verb (transitive)] > repent (an action)
repentc1380
relent1590
resent1618
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene iii. vi. sig. Hh4 Shee inly sory was, and gan relent, What shee had said.
1644 R. Williams Blovdy Tenent cxxxviii. 246 These Kings of the Earth shall..burne this Whore, and yet afterward shall relent and bewaile their cruell dealing toward her.
1683 Dutch Rogue 153 His negligence he relented now more than his Actions, which were the occasion of this his misery.
b. transitive. To bewail (something) to someone. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > sorrow or grief > lamentation or expression of grief > cry of grief > cry with grief [verb (transitive)] > bewail
bewailc1300
grotec1300
relent1655
behowl1853
1655 tr. C. Sorel Comical Hist. Francion iii. 74 I could find nothing at all, and relenting my misfortune to my companion [etc.].
c. transitive (reflexive). To repent of a thing. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > virtue > righteousness or rectitude > reform, amendment, or correction > repentance or contrition > repent [verb (reflexive)]
forthinka1300
repentc1300
resent1618
relent1685
1685 W. Penn Def. Duke of Buckingham's Bk. 21 He must have relented him mightily, or having been in a Fit, is come to himself.
1831 J. H. Willis Scraps & Sketches 49 Possibly, he relented him of his fell intent; at least it seemed to me that he did so.
Derivatives
reˈlented adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > constitution of matter > softness > types of softness > [adjective] > soft and moist
bloatc1300
relented?1440
sposhy1842
squelchy1843
givey1859
the world > matter > liquid > making or becoming liquid > action or process of dissolving > [adjective] > dissolved
resolute?a1425
relented?1440
decoct1540
decocted?c1599
solved1662
dissolved1707
solute1890
the mind > emotion > compassion > [adjective] > moved by
meltingc1565
relenteda1586
relentful1598
edulcorate1819
tr. Palladius De re Rustica (Duke Humfrey) (1896) iv. 105 (MED) In the roote Relented [L. liquidum] dong yputte on doth hit boote.
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) ii. xvi. sig. Z6v [She] with a relented countenance, thus said vnto him.
1634 T. Johnson tr. A. Paré Chirurg. Wks. xxi. iv. 778 The relented bloud, of such beasts as feed upon scammonie..purgeth violently.
a1718 T. Parnell Posthumous Wks. (1758) 63 Radiant glory from her upper sphear Lookes down & glitters in relented air.
1858 Times 26 Oct. 10 The countenance of his relented father.
2007 R. Zaller Disc. Legitimacy in Early Mod. Eng. 585 King James, for whom monarchy..was bounded only by the relented will of the prince.
reˈlentance n. now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > reversal of or forsaking one's will or purpose > [noun]
reversec1487
retraction1536
relent1580
declension1597
relentance1629
resentment1646
intercision1647
relenting1694
back-down1862
backing-down1883
back-pedalling1950
step-down1973
1629 T. Jackson Treat. Divine Essence ii. 348 This speedy relentance upon this warning, is an assured testimonie, that the feare of God and of his just judgements, did in some measure lodge in all their harts.
1635 T. Jackson Humiliation Sonne of God viii. xii. §9 This may be the probable reason of his relentance.
1854 H. J. Coke High & Low III. iii. 58 Johnny..hanging down his head in an attitude of relentance.
1903 T. W. Duncan tr. G. Rodenbach Bruges-la-morte iv. 138 A relentance of Destiny which had brought sunlight into the bleakness of his days.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2009; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
† relentv.2
Obsolete. rare.
intransitive. To return.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > memory > retrospection, reminiscence > look back, retrospect [verb (intransitive)] > return to a topic
returnc1405
resortc1425
relent?c1500
recur1620
remountc1740
to tread back one's steps1777
hark back1829
?c1500 Conversion of St. Paul (Digby) 259 But now, serys, lett vs relente Agayne to caypha and anna, to tell this chaunce.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2009; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.1580
adj.?1440
v.1c1405v.2?c1500