▪ I. reˈlax, n.
[f. the vb.]
1. Relaxation; an instance of this.
| 1627–77 Feltham Resolves ii. lviii. 282 'Tis not denyed, but labors and cares may have their Relaxes and Recreations. 1643 Milton Divorce ii. xiv. Wks. 1851 IV. 97 The first good consequence of such a relaxe will be the justifying of Papal stews. 1733 Budgell Bee I. 499 Sated Nature crav'd Timely Relax, distent with liquid Pain. 1773 J. Ross Fratricide ii. 255 (MS.), Hate now returning With ten-fold force, reliev'd by short relax! 1853 C. Brontë Villette II. xxiii. 141 That bustle and business to which, till five p.m., there was no relax. 1925 A. S. M. Hutchinson One Increasing Purpose i. xxii. 137 That..sigh she gave,..and that relax into his arms. 1961 Times 2 Nov. 16/2 Miss Brodie herself, who is always arousing her headmistress's suspicions because of her damning of braces and blessing of relaxes. |
† 2. A device for releasing some part of a machine. Obs.
| 1676 Phil. Trans. XI. 716 As the Relax gives way, the Weight will adjust the motion of the hand to the Index E. |
▪ II. reˈlax, a. rare.
[f. the vb., on anal. of lax a.]
1. Lax, wanting in strictness.
| 1609 Bible (Douay) Judg. xxi. comm., Lest either justice be over sharpe, or mercie too relaxe. 1790 Beatson Nav. & Mil. Mem. II. 198 He was so relax in discipline, that the garrison..were seldom in a condition to do their duty properly. 1802 tr. Ducray-Duminil's Victor III. 228 We determined first to visit France and to consider Germany, the police of which was more relax than in other countries. |
† 2. Relaxed, slack. Obs.
| 1626 Bacon Sylva §381 The motion and activity of the body consisteth chiefly in the sinews, which, when the southern wind bloweth, are more relax. |
▪ III. relax, v.
(rɪˈlæks)
[ad. L. relaxāre, f. re- re- + laxus lax a. Cf. F. relaxer (14th c.).]
I. trans.
1. † a. To make (a thing) less compact or dense; to loosen or open up by separation of parts. Also refl. Obs.
| c 1420 Pallad. on Husb. ii. 140 Ragston & thinges hard, in cold and hete Relaxed, bereth vyneyerdes grete. 1664 Power Exp. Philos. i. 77 When the Atoms wherewith the Liquor is fully impregnated do relax and open themselves. 1667 Milton P.L. vi. 599 But now Foule dissipation follow'd and forc't rout; Nor serv'd it to relax thir serried files. 1676 I. Coniers in Phil. Trans. XI. 717 At that time it relaxes or swells the Deal for about two or three hours. |
b. To render (a part of the body) less firm or rigid; to make loose or pliable or slack; to enfeeble or enervate (spec. in Ent.). Also in fig. context.
| 1620 Venner Via Recta iii. 68 It mollifieth and relaxeth the stomacke, taketh away the appetite. 1664 Power Exp. Philos. i. 68 The Optick Nerve being by successful means disobstructed and relaxed. 1781 Gibbon Decl. & F. xxv. II. 529 The nerves of discipline were relaxed, and the high⁓ways were infested with robbers. 1808 Med. Jrnl. XIX. 247 The speedy and prompt administration of every remedy tending to relax the surface. 1860 Tyndall Glac. i. xi. 84 The heat relaxed my muscles. 1902 W. J. Holland Butterfly Bk. 41 When butterflies or moths have been put up in papers or mounted on pins without having their wings expanded and set it becomes necessary, before setting them, to relax them. 1939 Duncan & Pickwell World of Insects xix. 389 Before such stored specimens can be mounted they must be relaxed. 1976 P. W. Cribb Lepidopterist's Handbk. vii. 85, I have just relaxed and set some tortrices without too much trouble. |
| absol. 1718 Quincy Compl. Disp. 113 They are very mucilaginous, and therefore soften, relax, and heal. 1753 Chambers Cycl. Supp. s.v. Malache, Such ointments as relax and mollify. |
c. To diminish the force or tension of; esp. to loosen (one's hold or grasp).
| 1781 Cowper Conversat. 812 Charity may relax the miser's fist. 1790 Burke Fr. Rev. (ed. 2) 93 This distemper..relaxes and wears out..the spring of that spirit. 1841 Borrow Zincali i. iii. ii. 267 Owing to the civil wars, the ties which unite society have been considerably relaxed. 1859 Tennyson Guinevere 454 When..their law Relaxed its hold upon us. 1866 Duke of Argyll Reign Law vii. (1871) 389 False conceptions of the truth..may and do relax the most powerful springs of action. |
2. a. To make less strict, severe, or rigid; to mitigate, tone down, modify.
| 1662 Gunning Lent Fast 69 An austerer course of life is relaxed through the frailty of the flesh. 1718 Pope Iliad xv. 78 Not till that Day shall Jove relax his Rage. 1769 Junius Lett. xii. (1788) 81 We have seen the laws sometimes scandalously relaxed, sometimes violently stretched beyond their tone. 1820 Scott Abbot ii, The old woman seemed somewhat to relax her tone of severity. 1870 Freeman Norm. Conq. (ed. 2) I. iv. 173 The rule had clearly been relaxed before the reign of the Great William. |
| absol. 1768 Tucker Lt. Nat. II. iii. xxiv. 39 No man can fix so perfect an idea of that virtue [justice] as that he may not afterwards find reason to add or relax therefrom. |
b. To slacken, abate, diminish (an effort, etc.).
| 1774 Goldsm. Nat. Hist. (1776) II. 64 From the moment the necessity of learning new words ceases, they relax their industry. 1817 Shelley Rev. Islam vi. xx, [The horse] relaxed its course as it approached me. 1843 A. Bethune Sc. Fireside Stor. 29 Having business of importance which demanded his presence elsewhere, [he] began to relax his attention. |
c. To cause to abate in zeal or force. rare.
| 1660 Secker in Spurgeon Treas. Dav. Ps. xliv. 17–19 Neither the persecuting hand of men, nor the chastising hand of God, relaxed ancient singular saints. 1824–28 Landor Citat. Shaks. Wks. 1846 II. 286 Whether we have not..acted as if we believed that opposition were to be relaxed and borne away by self sufficiency. |
d. refl. To unbend (oneself); to take relaxation.
| 1762–71 H. Walpole Vertue's Anecd. Paint. (1786) V. 135 The philosophic warrior, who could relax himself into the ornament of a refined court. 1772–84 Cook's Voy. (1790) IV. 1489 They relax themselves by conversation and other amusements. |
3. † a. To remit (a rent). Obs. rare—1.
| 1528 Galway Arch. in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. V. 403 It was condessendid by the..Comens to relax to the said Willam Marten..the rent that he owith of the tennement to the Comens. |
b. To give up, stop (a process).
| 1883 Law Rep. 11 Q.B. Div. 554 He must apply to the Court for an order to release him, and the Court must order the process to be relaxed. |
4. a. Sc. (now only Law.) To free or discharge (a person) from restraint, legal process, or penalty. Also absol. To procure a relaxation.
| 1546 Reg. Privy Council Scot. I. 29 Ordanis lettres to be direct to relax James Twedy..fra the proces of the horne led upon him. a 1578 Lindesay (Pitscottie) Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.) I. 26 Quhou schir James Steuart and his brother was put in presoune,..And hou they war relaxit againe. 1640 R. Baillie Canterb. Self-Convict. 115 He must have no lesse censure then the great excommunication, from which he must never be relaxed but by the Bishops own mouth. 1752 J. Louthian Form of Process (ed. 2) 141 That..ye..relax the said [persons].. from the Process of Denounciation led against them. 1791 Kames Dict. Decisions (ed. 2) II. 329 He who relaxes and registers not, cannot alienate, being still holden and repute rebel. 1838 W. Bell Dict. Law Scot. 844 Letters passing the signet whereby a debtor was relaxed from the horn, that is from personal diligence. |
b. Of the Inquisition: To hand over (heretics) to the secular power for execution. [Sp. relaxar.]
| 1838 Prescott Ferd. & Is. i. vii. I. 377 Those who were to be relaxed, as it was called, were delivered over, as impenitent heretics, to the secular arm. 1853 W. Stirling-Maxwell Cloister Life Chas. V, 209 Dr. Cazalla was one of fifteen heretics who were ‘relaxed’, or, in secular speech, burnt in May 1559 at Valladolid. |
c. To set free from labour. rare—1.
| 1762–9 Falconer Shipwr. i. 336 Relax'd from toil the sailors range the shore. |
II. intr.
5. a. To become loose or slack; to grow less tense or firm.
| 1720 Pope Iliad xxi. 309 Tired by the tides, his knees relax with toil. 1858 Lardner Hand-bk. Nat. Phil. 128 The piston descends, therefore, and the spring relaxes. |
b. Of the features: To become less rigid or stern. Also const. from, into.
| 1797 Mrs. Radcliffe Italian iv, His features relaxed from their first expression. 1832 H. Martineau Ireland iii. 40 Presently the knit brow relaxed, the fierce eye was tamed. 1840 Dickens Barn. Rudge ii, His features would relax into a look of fondness. |
6. To abate in degree or force.
| 1701 Rowe Amb. Step-Moth. iv. i, This raging Fit of Honour will relax. 1823 J. Badcock Dom. Amusem. 47 When our warm weather comes on early, and does not too soon relax. 1834 Disraeli Rev. Epick ii. xxiii, This emprise Will not relax until the sun shall rise On men who bless his birth. |
7. a. To become less severe, strict, or exacting; to grow milder. Also const. from.
| 1749 H. Walpole Let. to Mann 4 Mar. (1857) II. 147 The mutinous were likely to go great lengths, if the Admiralty had not bought off some by money, and others by relaxing in the material points. 1789 Belsham Ess. II. xli. 523 It was hoped..the Court would relax in its opposition. 1818 Jas. Mill Brit. India II. v. ii. 368 The Colonel proposed to relax in the affair of Basslin, and to ask for something else in its stead. 1850 Mrs. Browning Prometh. Bound 216 Thou art, sooth, a brave god, And, for all thou hast borne.., Nought relaxest from scorn! |
b. Of persons: To become less stiff or distant; to assume a friendlier manner. Also const. into.
| 1837 Dickens Pickw. ii, He gradually relaxed, and reverted to the subject of the ball. 1837 Disraeli Venetia iii. ii, Lady Annabel relaxed into conversation beyond her custom. 1879 Howells L. Aroostook (1883) I. 200 It seemed to him as if..she relaxed towards him as they walked. |
c. Of persons: to become less tense or anxious. Freq. imp., ‘stop worrying!’, ‘calm down!’
| 1935 A. J. Pollock Underworld Speaks 135/2 You can relax, the person playing the hand in contract informing his partner that the contract will be made. 1941 Men Only July 70 (caption) All right, relax. I'm just watching it [sc. the baby] for someone! 1954 T. S. Eliot Confidential Clerk i. 18 As you're here, Eggers, I can just relax. 1959 Woman 4 Apr. 48/2, I patted his knee. ‘Relax, darling. Our problem is soon to be solved.’ 1976 C. Wolff Older Love i. 12, I relaxed over a crème caramel and was happy. |
8. To slacken in zeal or application (also const. into); to seek or take relaxation from work or occupation.
| 1760–2 Goldsm. Cit. W. ix, I once more, therefore, relax into my former indifference with regard to the English ladies. 1774 ― Retal. 79 Here Douglas retires from his toils to relax. 1796 C. Marshall Garden. xxii. (1813) 448 He cannot relax in his duty without his neglect being manifest by serious consequences following it. 1833 Cruse tr. Eusebius' Eccl. Hist. vi. iii. 222 He did not however relax in his perseverance. |
† 9. To slacken in respect of something. Obs.
| 1775 Tender Father II. 69 No sooner was this effected, than I relaxed of my tenderness and regard. 1797 A. M. Bennett Beggar Girl (1813) II. 66 The stately brow of Mrs. Buchanan relaxed of its asperity. |
10. Chiefly Physics. To return towards a state of equilibrium.
| 1959 G. Troup Masers iii. 45 Interactions occur between the lattice vibrations and the molecules, which enable the molecular system to ‘relax’ to thermal equilibrium. 1972 Physics Bull. Aug. 451/3 The electronic spins, initially unpolarized, relax slowly towards their equilibrium polarization which, in the high field applied and at a very low temperature of 0·4 K, is nearly 100%. 1973 Nature 24 Aug. 496/1 We have thus assumed that the observed strains result from a single system which relaxed exponentially after the start of the eruption with a time constant of 7·5 d. 1978 Sci. Amer. Sept. 124/2 Regular patterns of differential extinction..have occurred as the supersaturated faunas of 13 species of small flightless mammals have relaxed toward the smaller number of species that are appropriate to particular mountaintops. |
▸ trans. Hairdressing (orig. U.S.). To straighten or partially uncurl (hair) using a chemical product. Cf. slightly earlier relaxer n.
Chiefly in African-American, Caribbean, and British Afro-Caribbean usage.
| 1961 Ebony Nov. 35 (advt.) A pleasant pink cream goes into your hair and begins to relax it, gently. 1977 Washington Post (Nexis) 27 Dec. b3 Henna tends to dry the hair, a quality that already troubles many black women who use chemicals to relax their hair. 1989O. Senior Two Grandmothers in Arrival of Snake-Woman (1997) 71 Can I have my hair relaxed as soon as I am twelve as you promised? 1996 Independent on Sunday 7 Apr. (Real Lives Suppl.) 6/5 If a hairdresser relaxes your hair it will set you back {pstlg}30 or more. 2001 A. Wheatle East of Acre Lane 232 His hair straight like anyt'ing. He didn't affe conk it or relax it like most man in his time. |
▸ intr. Hairdressing (orig. U.S.). Of permed hair: to uncurl partially; to soften or loosen naturally.
| 1962 Amer. Hairdresser Feb. 94/1 Why do permanent waves relax?.. The more alkaline the hair is.., the easier and quicker it will relax. 1985 Scholastic Choices (Nexis) 30 35 Chlorine also causes tinted hair to turn brassy, black hair to turn reddish, perms to relax, and relaxed hair to frizz. 1993 Flare Aug. 17/1 Perking up a perm: as a perm relaxes, the crown of the hair flattens while the sides remain full. |