relinquish, v.
(rɪˈlɪŋkwɪʃ)
Also 5–6 relinquys, -lynquysshe, -lenquyssh, etc.
[ad. OF. relinquiss-, lengthened stem of relinquir, relenquir (12th c. in Godef.):—L. relinquĕre, f. re- re- + linquĕre to leave.]
† 1. trans. To withdraw from, desert, abandon (a person). Obs. rare.
| 1472–3 Rolls of Parlt. VI. 22/1 Yf he wold have relinquyst and departed fro youre moost noble persone. c 1500 Melusine 262 That he was not parfytte frend, who that relenquysshed hys cousyn at hys nede. 1552 Bk. Com. Prayer, Ordering of Deacons, I from hencefurth shall vtterlye renounce, refuse, relinquish, & forsake the bishop of Rome. |
† b. To abandon in fleeing. Obs. rare—1.
| a 1548 Hall Chron., Edw. IV 218 The Erle of Warwycke..was now aduised by the Marques his brother, to relynquishe his horse. |
† c. To give up as incurable. Obs. rare—1.
| 1601 Shakes. All's Well ii. iii. 10 To be relinquisht of the artists,..Of all the learned and authenticke fellowes..That gaue him out incureable. |
2. To give up or give over, to abandon, desist from (an idea, action, practice, etc.); to cease to hold, adhere to, or prosecute.
| 1497 Bp. Alcock Mons Perfect. D j/2 Who so euer professyth relygyon, & he..not relynquysshyth his owne wyll [etc.]. 1539 in Lisle Papers VIII. 41 (MS.), The Bishop of Canterbury..willed him to declare the truth and to relinquish his opinions. 1597 Hooker Eccl. Pol. v. lxv. §21 Touching therefore the sign and ceremony of the Cross, wee no way find ourselues bound to relinquish it. 1666–7 Pepys Diary 21 Jan., He might be got to our side and relinquish the trouble he might give us. 1766 Fordyce Serm. Yng. Wm. (1767) I. i. 39 When will you relinquish delusive pursuits? 1781 Gibbon Decl. & F. xviii. II. 109 Alarmed by this intelligence, he hastily relinquished the siege. 1805 Med. Jrnl. XIV. 43 Every hope of recovery was abandoned, and her physician relinquished his attendance. 1834 H. Martineau Demerara ix. 123 The absent brother and sister were less willing to relinquish the hope of return. 1859 Dickens Lett. (1880) II. 105, I altogether abandon and relinquish the idea. |
† b. To leave to another to deal with. Obs.—1
| 1547 Boorde Brev. Health Pref. 5 b, Wherfore I do omyt and leue out manye thynges, relynquyshynge that I haue omytted to doctours of hygh iudgement. |
c. To desist from putting forward or supporting for office. rare—1.
| a 1797 H. Walpole Mem. Geo. II (1822) I. 388 He..offered to omit the primate, provided Lord Kildare would..offer to relinquish the Speaker too. |
3. To give up, resign, surrender (a possession, right, etc.). Also const. to.
| 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 456 b, They wyll not relinquishe theyr Byshoprike. 1612 Davies Why Ireland, etc. 30 The english Lords..placed Irish Tenants vppon the Landes relinquished by the English. 1683 Brit. Spec. 129 King Lucius..is said to have relinquished his Crown, and passed over into Bavaria. a 1727 Newton Chronol. Amended (1728) 36 Sabacon, after a Reign of 50 years, relinquishes Egypt to his son. 1782 F. Burney Cecilia i. i, The Deanery, indeed, she was obliged to relinquish. 1813 Wellington in Gurw. Desp. (1838) X. 565 They know my disinclination to relinquish the command. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. ii. I. 202 He consented..to relinquish a large part of the territory which his armies had occupied. 1874 Green Short Hist. viii. §5. 517 An offer to relinquish ship-money failed to draw Parliament from its resolve. |
b. To let go (something held).
| 1850 A. Jameson Leg. Monast. Ord. (1863) 287 St. Antony sustains in his arms the Infant Christ, whom the Virgin, above, appears to have just relinquished. 1865 Dickens Mut. Fr. iii. xv, He once more put her hand to his lips, and then relinquished it. |
† 4. To leave behind; also, to leave in a specified condition. Obs. rare.
| 1582 Stanyhurst æneis iii. (Arb.) 79 Thee Pheacan turrets foorth with from sight we relinquish. 1597 A. M. tr. Guillemeau's Fr. Chirurg. 51/1 All diseases relinquish some badde reliques in the parte, wherthrough they may the easyer returne agayne. 1679 J. Smith Narr. Pop. Plot Ded. B b, To render your People happy while you live, and relinquish them safe when you dye. |
† 5. intr. To disappear, pass away. Obs.—1
| 1599 B. Jonson Cynthia's Rev. iv. i, I'll ensure you they will all relinquish: they cannot endure above another year. |
† 6. trans. To cancel, do away with. Obs. rare.
| 1594 West 2nd Pt. Symbol., Chancerie §118 [He] doth threaten your foresaid Orator, that he may at his pleasure relinquish and disanull the beforesaid last Will and Testament. |
† 7. To release. Const. of. Obs. rare—1.
| 1671 R. Montagu in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.) I. 503 He did relinquish him of his promise of sending any land forces. |
Hence reˈlinquished ppl. a., reˈlinquishing vbl. n.1; also reˈlinquisher.
| 1611 Cotgr., Delaissement, a..relinquishing, or giuing ouer. Ibid., Relinqueur, a relinquisher, leauer, quitter. 1622 Callis Stat. Sewers (1647) 9 The Lease expired, C. enters, the Prince ejects him, and the King seizeth this Relinquished ground. |