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rely

 - 4 dictionary results

re⋅ly

  [ri-lahy]
Use rely in a Sentence
–verb (used without object), -lied, -ly⋅ing.
to depend confidently; put trust in (usually fol. by on or upon): You can rely on her work.
Origin:
1300–50; ME relien < MF relier < L religāre to bind fast, hold firmly. See re-, ligament

Synonyms:
trust, count, bank.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To rely
re·ly   (rĭ-lī')   
intr.v.   re·lied, re·ly·ing, re·lies

  1. To be dependent for support, help, or supply: relies on her parents for tuition.

  2. To place or have faith or confidence: relied on them to tell him the truth.


[Middle English relien, to rally, from Old French relier, from Latin religāre, to bind fast : re-, re- + ligāre, to bind; see leig- in Indo-European roots.]
re·li'er n.
Synonyms: These verbs share the meaning to place or have faith or confidence in someone or something. Rely implies complete confidence: "You are the only woman I can rely on to be interested in her" (John Galsworthy).
Trust stresses confidence arising from belief that is often based on inconclusive evidence: "We must try to trust one another. Stay and cooperate" (Jomo Kenyatta).
Depend implies confidence in the help or support of another: depends on friends for emotional support.
Reckon implies a sense of confident expectancy: "He reckons on finding a woman as big a fool as himself" (George Meredith).
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

rely 
c.1330, "to gather, assemble," from O.Fr. relier "fasten, attach, rally, oblige," from L. religare "fasten, bind fast," from re-, intensive prefix, + ligare "to bind" (see ligament). Sense of "depend, trust" is from 1574, perhaps via notion of "rally to, fall back on."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: re·ly
Function: intransitive verb
Inflected Forms: re·lied; re·ly·ing
: to depend with confidence : place faith
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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