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relent

 - 6 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.

lend

  [lend] verb, lent, lend⋅ing.
–verb (used with object)
1. to grant the use of (something) on condition that it or its equivalent will be returned.
2. to give (money) on condition that it is returned and that interest is paid for its temporary use.
3. to give or contribute obligingly or helpfully: to lend one's aid to a cause.
4. to adapt (oneself or itself) to something: The building should lend itself to inexpensive remodeling.
5. to furnish or impart: Distance lends enchantment to the view.
–verb (used without object)
6. to make a loan.
—Idiom
7. lend a hand, to give help; aid: If everyone lends a hand, we can have dinner ready in half an hour.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME lenden, var. (orig. past tense) of lenen, OE lǣnan (c. D lenen, G lehnen, ON lāna), deriv. of lǣn loan; c. G Lehnen, ON lān. See loan 1

Related forms:
lender, noun
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

lend 
O.E. lænan "to lend," from læn "loan" (see loan). Cognate with Du. lenen, O.H.G. lehanon, Ger. lehnen, also verbs derived from nouns. Past tense form, with terminal -d, became principal form in M.E. on analogy of bend, send, etc.

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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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: lend
Function: verb
Inflected Forms: lent; lend·ing
transitive verb 1 : to give for temporary use on condition that the same or its equivalent be returned
2 : to let out (money) for temporary use on condition of repayment with interest intransitive verb : to make a loan —lend·able adjective —lend·er noun
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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