RELENT • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Relent

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/rɪlˈɛnt/ Listen

verb

Relent v. t.

To slacken; to abate. (Obs.) "And oftentimes he would relent his pace."

To soften; to dissolve. (Obs.)

To mollify; to cause to be less harsh or severe. (Obs.)

Relent v. i. (past & past part. relented; pres. part. relenting)

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." "(Salt of tartar) placed in a cellar will... begin to relent." "When opening buds salute the welcome day, And earth, relenting, feels the genial ray."

To become less severe or intense; to become less hard, harsh, cruel, or the like; to soften in temper; to become more mild and tender; to feel compassion. "Can you... behold My sighs and tears, and will not once relent?"

noun

Relent n. Stay; stop; delay. (Obs.) "Nor rested till she came without relent Unto the land of Amazons."

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Etymology of 'Relent'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Relent" Quotes from Famous Books

... taken pity on him in such a plight. He had lampooned them in verses, he had beaten and cheated them; and yet now, when he was in so close a pinch, he thought there was at least one who might perhaps relent. It was a chance. It was worth trying at least, and he would ...

— The Great English Short-Story Writers, Vol. 1 • Various

... like wintry streams o'erflow: What wretch with me would barter woe? My bird! relent: one note could give A charm to bid thy ...

— The Works Of Lord Byron, Vol. 3 (of 7) • Lord Byron

... was the subject of regret to us all; but we lived in hopes that time would soften his resentment, and that in the end he would relent. About two months after our marriage Mr. Norman died; and, after the funeral, I and my wife removed to a house I had in Piccadilly, near the park. There we lived very happily for a length of time; my sister, ...

— Forgotten Tales of Long Ago • E. V. Lucas

... Men and women, villagers, passing across the bridge, looked at us curiously. I was miserable, and somewhat appalled; resentful, yet striving to be gentle and conciliatory. I assured her that she was talking nonsense, that I loved her. But I did not really love her at that moment; nor did she relent as easily as usual. It was not until we were together in our sitting-room, a few hours later, that she gave in. I felt ...

— The Crossing • Winston Churchill

... here pictured, the Gilded One has vanished through the portals. Impersonal, unresponsive attendants in Aztec garb guard the door from suppliant followers. With subtle symbolism they give no sign as to whether or not they will relent and give entrance. But the fact that branches of trees have grown close across the opening seems to ...

— The Sculpture and Mural Decorations of the Exposition • Stella G. S. Perry

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