Part 183

Re*lease" (r?-l?s"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Released (r?*l?st"); p. pr. & vb. n. Releasing.] [OE. relessen, OF. relassier, to release, to let free. See Relay, n., Relax, and cf. Release to lease again.] 1. To let loose again; to set free from restraint, confinement, or servitude; to give liberty to, or to set at liberty; to let go.

Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired.

Mark xv. 6.

2. To relieve from something that confines, burdens, or oppresses, as from pain, trouble, obligation, penalty.

3. (Law) To let go, as a legal claim; to discharge or relinquish a right to, as lands or tenements, by conveying to another who has some right or estate in possession, as when the person in remainder releases his right to the tenant in possession; to quit.

4. To loosen; to relax; to remove the obligation of; as, to release an ordinance. [Obs.] Hooker.

A sacred vow that none should aye release.

Spenser.

Syn. -- To free; liberate; loose; discharge; disengage; extricate; let go; quit; acquit.

Re*lease", n. 1. The act of letting loose or freeing, or the state of being let loose or freed; liberation or discharge from restraint of any kind, as from confinement or bondage. "Who boast'st release from hell." Milton.

2. Relief from care, pain, or any burden.

3. Discharge from obligation or responsibility, as from debt, penalty, or claim of any kind; acquittance.

4. (Law) A giving up or relinquishment of some right or claim; a conveyance of a man's right in lands or tenements to another who has some estate in possession; a quitclaim. Blackstone.

5. (Steam Engine) The act of opening the exhaust port to allow the steam to escape.

Lease and release. (Law) See under Lease. -- Out of release, without cessation. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Syn. -- Liberation; freedom; discharge. See Death.

Re*leas`ee" (-?"), n. One to whom a release is given.

Re*lease"ment (r?-l?s"ment), n. The act of releasing, as from confinement or obligation. Milton.

Re*leas"er (-?r), n. One who releases, or sets free.

Re*leas"or (-?r), n. One by whom a release is given.

Rel"e*gate (r?l"?-g?t), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Relegated (-g?`t?d); p. pr. & vb. n. Relegating.] [L. relegatus, p. p. of relegare; pref. re- re- + legare to send with a commission or charge. See Legate.] To remove, usually to an inferior position; to consign; to transfer; specifically, to send into exile; to banish.

It [the Latin language] was relegated into the study of the scholar.

Milman.

Rel`e*ga"tion (-g?"sh?n), n. [L. relegatio: cf. F. relégation.] The act of relegating, or the state of being relegated; removal; banishment; exile.

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 deliquesce. [Obs.]

He stirred the coals till relente gan The wax again the fire.

Chaucer.

Boyle.