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relent

 - 3 dictionary results

re⋅lent

  [ri-lent]
Use relent in a Sentence
–verb (used without object)
1. to soften in feeling, temper, or determination; become more mild, compassionate, or forgiving.
2. to become less severe; slacken: The winds relented.
–verb (used with object)
3. Obsolete. to cause to soften in feeling, temper, or determination.
4. Obsolete. to cause to slacken; abate.
5. Obsolete. to abandon; relinquish.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME < ML *relentāre, equiv. to L re- re- + lentāre to bend, deriv. of lentus flexible, viscous, slow

Related forms:
re⋅lent⋅ing⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
1. bend, yield.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To relent
re·lent   (rĭ-lěnt')   
v.   re·lent·ed, re·lent·ing, re·lents

v.   intr.
To become more lenient, compassionate, or forgiving. See Synonyms at yield.
v.   tr. Obsolete

  1. To cause to slacken or abate.

  2. To cause to soften in attitude or temper.


[Middle English relenten, to melt, from Anglo-Norman relenter, from relent, damp : Latin re-, re- + Latin lentus, sticky, slow.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

relent 
c.1386, "to melt, soften, dissolve," from re-, intensive prefix + L. lentus "slow, viscous, supple" (see lithe). Sense of "become less harsh or cruel" first recorded 1526. The notion is probably of a hard heart melting with pity. Relentless is from 1592.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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