Part 185

2. Bearing upon, or properly applying to, the case in hand; pertinent; applicable.

Close and relevant arguments have very little hold on the passions.

Sydney Smith.

3. (Scots Law) Sufficient to support the cause.

Rel"e*vant*ly, adv. In a relevant manner.

Rel`e*va"tion (-v?"sh?n), n. [L. relevatio, fr. relevare. See Relieve.] A raising or lifting up. [Obs.]

Re*li`a*bil"i*ty (r?-l?`?-b?l"?-t?), n. The state or quality of being reliable; reliableness.

Re*li"a*ble (r?-l?"?-b'l), a. Suitable or fit to be relied on; worthy of dependance or reliance; trustworthy. "A reliable witness to the truth of the miracles." A. Norton.

The best means, and most reliable pledge, of a higher object.

Coleridge.

According to General Livingston's humorous account, his own village of Elizabethtown was not much more reliable, being peopled in those agitated times by "unknown, unrecommended strangers, guilty-looking Tories, and very knavish Whigs."

W. Irving.

Some authors take exception to this word, maintaining that it is unnecessary, and irregular in formation. It is, however, sanctioned by the practice of many careful writers as a most convenient substitute for the phrase to be relied upon, and a useful synonym for trustworthy, which is by preference applied to persons, as reliable is to things, such as an account, statement, or the like. The objection that adjectives derived from neuter verbs do not admit of a passive sense is met by the citation of laughable, worthy of being laughed at, from the neuter verb to laugh; available, fit or able to be availed of, from the neuter verb to avail; dispensable, capable of being dispensed with, from the neuter verb to dispense. Other examples might be added.

-- Re*li"a*ble*ness, n. -- Re*li"a*bly, adv.

Re*li"ance (-ans), n. [From Rely.] 1. The act of relying, or the condition or quality of being reliant; dependence; confidence; trust; repose of mind upon what is deemed sufficient support or authority.

In reliance on promises which proved to be of very little value.

Macaulay.

2. Anything on which to rely; dependence; ground of trust; as, the boat was a poor reliance. Richardson.

Re*li"ant (-ant), a. Having, or characterized by, reliance; confident; trusting.

Rel"ic (r?l"?k), n. [F. relique, from L. reliquiae, pl., akin to relinquere to leave behind. See Relinquish.] [Formerly written also relique.] 1. That which remains; that which is left after loss or decay; a remaining portion; a remnant. Chaucer. Wyclif.

The relics of lost innocence.

Kebe.

The fragments, scraps, the bits and greasy relics.

Shak.

2. The body from which the soul has departed; a corpse; especially, the body, or some part of the body, of a deceased saint or martyr; -- usually in the plural when referring to the whole body.

There are very few treasuries of relics in Italy that have not a tooth or a bone of this saint.

Addison.

Thy relics, Rowe, to this fair urn we trust, And sacred place by Dryden's awful dust.