New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.
relent — [ rəlɑ̃ ] n. m. • relans XIVe; relent, relente adj. « qui a un goût écœurant » 1200; re intensif et lat. lentus « tenace, humide » ♦ (Souvent au plur.) Mauvaise odeur qui persiste. Relents d alcool, de graillon. « Une puanteur de poubelle et de… … Encyclopédie Universelle
relent — RELENT, [rel]ente. adj. Qui sent l enfermé, le moisi. Cette viande est relente. une vapeur relente. un air relent. Il est plus en usage au substantif. Cela sent le relent, a un goust de relent, une senteur de relent. l odeur du relent est fort… … Dictionnaire de l'Académie française
Relent — Re*lent (r? l?nt ), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Relented}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Relenting}.] [F. ralentir, fr. L. pref. re re + ad to + lentus pliant, flexible, slow. See {Lithe}.] 1. To become less rigid or hard; to yield; to dissolve; to melt; to… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Relent — Re*lent , v. t. 1. To slacken; to abate. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] And oftentimes he would relent his pace. Spenser. [1913 Webster] 2. To soften; to dissolve. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] 3. To mollify; to cause to be less harsh or severe. [Obs.] [1913… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Relent — Re*lent (r? l?nt ), n. Stay; stop; delay. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] Nor rested till she came without relent Unto the land of Amazons. Spenser. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
relent — [ri lent′] vi. [ME relenten, to melt, ult. < L < re , again + lentus, flexible, pliant, slow: see LITHE] 1. to soften in temper, resolution, etc.; become less severe, stern, or stubborn 2. Obs. to melt vt. Obs. to cause to relent SYN. YIELD … English World dictionary
relent — I verb abate severity, accede, acquiesce, be assuaged, be compassionate, be compliant, be forgiving, be merciful, be mollified, be placated, be pliant, be submissive, be tolerant, bend, defer to, feel compassion, feel for, forgive, give, give in … Law dictionary
relent — (v.) late 14c., to melt, soften, dissolve, from re , intensive prefix, + L. lentus slow, viscous, supple (see LITHE (Cf. lithe)). Sense of become less harsh or cruel first recorded 1520s. The notion probably is of a hard heart melting with pity.… … Etymology dictionary
relent — *yield, submit, capitulate, succumb, defer, bow, cave Analogous words: comply, acquiesce (see corresponding adjectives at COMPLIANT): forbear, *refrain, abstain: *abate, subside, wane, ebb … New Dictionary of Synonyms
relent — [v] die down; let up acquiesce, be merciful, capitulate, cave in*, change one’s mind, come around, comply, cool it*, cry uncle*, die away, drop, ease, ease off, ease up on*, ebb, fall, fold, forbear, give in, give quarter*, give some slack*, give … New thesaurus
relent — ► VERB 1) abandon or moderate a harsh intention or cruel treatment. 2) become less intense. ORIGIN originally in the sense «dissolve»: from Latin re back + lentare to bend … English terms dictionary
