Chapter 23

Relay battery (Elec.), the local battery which is brought into use by the action of the relay magnet, or relay.

Rel"bun (r?l"b?n), n. The roots of the Chilian plant Calceolaria arachnoidea, -- used for dyeing crimson.

Re*leas"a*ble (r?-l?s"?-b'l), a. That may be released.

Re*lease" (r?-l?s"), v. t. [Pref. re + lease to let.] To lease again; to grant a new lease of; to let back.

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.

[Salt of tartar] placed in a cellar will . . . begin to relent.

Boyle.

When opening buds salute the welcome day, And earth, relenting, feels the genial ray.

Pope.

2. 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?

Shak.

Re*lent", v. t. 1. To slacken; to abate. [Obs.]

And oftentimes he would relent his pace.

Spenser.

2. To soften; to dissolve. [Obs.]

3. To mollify ; to cause to be less harsh or severe. [Obs.]

<! p. 1214 !>

Re*lent" (r?-l?nt"), n. Stay; stop; delay. [Obs.]

Nor rested till she came without relent Unto the land of Amazons.

Spenser.

Re*lent"less, a. Unmoved by appeals for sympathy or forgiveness; insensible to the distresses of others; destitute of tenderness; unrelenting; unyielding; unpitying; as, a prey to relentless despotism.

For this the avenging power employs his darts, . . . Thus will persist, relentless in his ire.

Dryden.

-- Re*lent"less*ly, adv. -- Re*lent"less*ness, n.

Re*lent"ment (-ment), n. The act or process of relenting; the state of having relented. Sir T. Browne.

Re*lesse" (r?-l?s"), v. t. To release. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Re`les*see" (r?`l?s-s?"), n. See Releasee.

Re`les*sor" (-s?r"), n. See Releasor.

Re-let" (r?-l?t"), v. t. To let anew, as a house.

{ Rel"e*vance (r?l"?*vans), Rel"e*van*cy (-van*s?), } n. 1. The quality or state of being relevant; pertinency; applicability.

Its answer little meaning, little relevancy bore.

Poe.

2. (Scots Law) Sufficiency to infer the conclusion.

Rel"e*vant (-vant), a. [F. relevant, p. pr. of relever to raise again, to relieve. See Relieve.] 1. Relieving; lending aid or support. [R.] Pownall.

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.

Pope.

3. Hence, a memorial; anything preserved in remembrance; as, relics of youthful days or friendships.

The pearls were spilt; Some lost, some stolen, some as relics kept.

Tennyson.

Rel"ic*ly, adv. In the manner of relics. [Obs.]

Rel"ict (-?kt), n. [L. relicta, fr. of relictus, p. p. of relinquere to leave behind. See Relinquish.] A woman whose husband is dead; a widow.

Eli dying without issue, Jacob was obliged by law to marry his relict, and so to raise up seed to his brother Eli.

South.

Re*lict"ed (r?-l?kt"?d), a. [L. relictus, p. p.] (Law) Left uncovered, as land by recession of water. Bouvier.

Re*lic"tion (r?-l?k"sh?n), n. [L. relictio a leaving behind.] (Law) A leaving dry; a recession of the sea or other water, leaving dry land; land left uncovered by such recession. Burrill.

Re*lief" (r?-l?f"), n. [OE. relef, F. relief, properly, a lifting up, a standing out. See Relieve, and cf. Basrelief, Rilievi.] 1. The act of relieving, or the state of being relieved; the removal, or partial removal, of any evil, or of anything oppressive or burdensome, by which some ease is obtained; succor; alleviation; comfort; ease; redress.

He sees the dire contagion spread so fast, That, where it seizes, all relief is vain.

Dryden.

2. Release from a post, or from the performance of duty, by the intervention of others, by discharge, or by relay; as, a relief of a sentry.

For this relief much thanks; 'tis bitter cold.

Shak.

3. That which removes or lessens evil, pain, discomfort, uneasiness, etc.; that which gives succor, aid, or comfort; also, the person who relieves from performance of duty by taking the place of another; a relay.

4. (Feudal Law) A fine or composition which the heir of a deceased tenant paid to the lord for the privilege of taking up the estate, which, on strict feudal principles, had lapsed or fallen to the lord on the death of the tenant.

5. (Sculp. & Arch.) The projection of a figure above the ground or plane on which it is formed.

Relief is of three kinds, namely, high relief (altorilievo), low relief, (basso-rilievo), and demirelief (mezzo-rilievo). See these terms in the Vocabulary.

6. (Paint.) The appearance of projection given by shading, shadow, etc., to any figure.

7. (Fort.) The height to which works are raised above the bottom of the ditch. Wilhelm.

8. (Physical Geog.) The elevations and surface undulations of a country. Guyot.

Relief valve, a valve arranged for relieving pressure of steam, gas, or liquid; an escape valve.

Syn. -- Alleviation; mitigation; aid; help; succor; assistance; remedy; redress; indemnification.

Re*lief"ful (r?-l?f"f?l), a. Giving relief. [Obs.]

Re*lief"less, a. Destitute of relief; also, remediless.

Re*li"er (r?-l?"?r), n. [From Rely.] One who relies.

Re*liev"a*ble (r?-l?v"?-b'l), a. Capable of being relieved; fitted to recieve relief. Sir M. Hale.

Re*lieve" (r?-l?v"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Relieved (-l?vd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Relieving.] [OE. releven, F. relever to raise again, discharge, relieve, fr. L. relevare to lift up, raise, make light, relieve; pref. re- re- + levare to raise, fr. levis light. See Levity, and cf. Relevant, Relief.] 1. To lift up; to raise again, as one who has fallen; to cause to rise. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.

2. To cause to seem to rise; to put in relief; to give prominence or conspicuousness to; to set off by contrast.

Her tall figure relieved against the blue sky; seemed almost of supernatural height.

Sir W. Scott.

3. To raise up something in; to introduce a contrast or variety into; to remove the monotony or sameness of.

The poet must . . . sometimes relieve the subject with a moral reflection.

Addison.

4. To raise or remove, as anything which depresses, weighs down, or crushes; to render less burdensome or afflicting; to alleviate; to abate; to mitigate; to lessen; as, to relieve pain; to relieve the wants of the poor.

5. To free, wholly or partly, from any burden, trial, evil, distress, or the like; to give ease, comfort, or consolation to; to give aid, help, or succor to; to support, strengthen, or deliver; as, to relieve a besieged town.

Now lend assistance and relieve the poor.

Dryden.

6. To release from a post, station, or duty; to put another in place of, or to take the place of, in the bearing of any burden, or discharge of any duty.

Who hath relieved you?

Shak.

7. To ease of any imposition, burden, wrong, or oppression, by judicial or legislative interposition, as by the removal of a grievance, by indemnification for losses, or the like; to right.

Syn. -- To alleviate; assuage; succor; assist; aid; help; support; substain; ease; mitigate; lighten; diminish; remove; free; remedy; redress; indemnify.

Re*lieve"ment (-ment), n. The act of relieving, or the state of being relieved; relief; release. [Archaic.]

Re*liev"er (-?r), n. One who, or that which, relieves.

Re*liev"ing, a. Serving or tending to relieve.

Relieving arch (Arch.), a discharging arch. See under Discharge, v. t. -- Relieving tackle. (Naut.) (a) A temporary tackle attached to the tiller of a vessel during gales or an action, in case of accident to the tiller ropes. (b) A strong tackle from a wharf to a careened vessel, to prevent her from going over entirely, and to assist in righting her. Totten. Craig.

Re*lie"vo (r?-l?"v?), n. [It. rilievo.] See Relief, n., 5.

Re*light" (r?-l?t"), v. t. To light or kindle anew.

{ ||Re*li`gi`euse" (re-l?`zh?`?z"), n. f. ||Re*li`gi`eux" (re-l?`zh?`?"), n. m. } [F.] A person bound by monastic vows; a nun; a monk.

Re*li"gion (r*lj"n), n. [F., from L. religio; cf. religens pious, revering the gods, Gr. 'ale`gein to heed, have a care. Cf. Neglect.] 1. The outward act or form by which men indicate their recognition of the existence of a god or of gods having power over their destiny, to whom obedience, service, and honor are due; the feeling or expression of human love, fear, or awe of some superhuman and overruling power, whether by profession of belief, by observance of rites and ceremonies, or by the conduct of life; a system of faith and worship; a manifestation of piety; as, ethical religions; monotheistic religions; natural religion; revealed religion; the religion of the Jews; the religion of idol worshipers.

An orderly life so far as others are able to observe us is now and then produced by prudential motives or by dint of habit; but without seriousness there can be no religious principle at the bottom, no course of conduct from religious motives; in a word, there can be no religion.

Paley.

Religion [was] not, as too often now, used as equivalent for godliness; but . . . it expressed the outer form and embodiment which the inward spirit of a true or a false devotion assumed.

Trench.

Religions, by which are meant the modes of divine worship proper to different tribes, nations, or communities, and based on the belief held in common by the members of them severally. . . . There is no living religion without something like a doctrine. On the other hand, a doctrine, however elaborate, does not constitute a religion.

C. P. Tiele (Encyc. Brit.).

Religion . . . means the conscious relation between man and God, and the expression of that relation in human conduct.

J. Köstlin (Schaff-Herzog Encyc.)

After the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.

Acts xxvi. 5.

The image of a brute, adorned With gay religions full of pomp and gold.

Milton.

2. Specifically, conformity in faith and life to the precepts inculcated in the Bible, respecting the conduct of life and duty toward God and man; the Christian faith and practice.

Let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion.

Washington.

Religion will attend you . . . as a pleasant and useful companion in every proper place, and every temperate occupation of life.

Buckminster.

3. (R. C. Ch.) A monastic or religious order subject to a regulated mode of life; the religious state; as, to enter religion. Trench.

A good man was there of religion.

Chaucer.

4. Strictness of fidelity in conforming to any practice, as if it were an enjoined rule of conduct. [R.]

Those parts of pleading which in ancient times might perhaps be material, but at this time are become only mere styles and forms, are still continued with much religion.

Sir M. Hale.

Religion, as distinguished from theology, is subjective, designating the feelings and acts of men which relate to God; while theology is objective, and denotes those ideas which man entertains respecting the God whom he worships, especially his systematized views of God. As distinguished from morality, religion denotes the influences and motives to human duty which are found in the character and will of God, while morality describes the duties to man, to which true religion always influences. As distinguished from piety, religion is a high sense of moral obligation and spirit of reverence or worship which affect the heart of man with respect to the Deity, while piety, which first expressed the feelings of a child toward a parent, is used for that filial sentiment of veneration and love which we owe to the Father of all. As distinguished from sanctity, religion is the means by which sanctity is achieved, sanctity denoting primarily that purity of heart and life which results from habitual communion with God, and a sense of his continual presence.

Natural religion, a religion based upon the evidences of a God and his qualities, which is supplied by natural phenomena. See Natural theology, under Natural. -- Religion of humanity, a name sometimes given to a religion founded upon positivism as a philosophical basis. -- Revealed religion, that which is based upon direct communication of God's will to mankind; especially, the Christian religion, based on the revelations recorded in the Old and New Testaments.

Re*li"gion*a*ry (r?-l?j"?n-?-r?), a. Relating to religion; pious; as, religionary professions. [Obs.]

{ Re*li"gion*a*ry, Re*li"gion*er (-?r), } n. A religionist. [R.]

Re*li"gion*ism (-?z'm), n. 1. The practice of, or devotion to, religion.

2. Affectation or pretense of religion.

Re*li"gion*ist, n. One earnestly devoted or attached to a religion; a religious zealot.

The chief actors on one side were, and were to be, the Puritan religionists.

Palfrey.

It might be that an Antinomian, a Quaker, or other heterodo&?; religionists, was to be scourged out of the town.

Hawthorne.

Re*li"gion*ize (-?z), v. t. To bring under the influence of religion. [R.] Mallock.

Re*li"gion*less, a. Destitute of religion.

Re*lig`i*os"i*ty (-l?j`?-?s"?-t?), n. [L. religiositas: cf. F. religiosit&?;.] The quality of being religious; religious feeling or sentiment; religiousness. [R.] M. Arnold.

Re*li"gious (r?-l?j"?s), a. [OF. religius, religious, F. religieux, from L. religiosus. See Religion.] 1. Of or pertaining to religion; concerned with religion; teaching, or setting forth, religion; set apart to religion; as, a religious society; a religious sect; a religious place; religious subjects, books, teachers, houses, wars.

Our law forbids at their religious rites My presence.

Milton.

2. Possessing, or conforming to, religion; pious; godly; as, a religious man, life, behavior, etc.

Men whose lives Religious titled them the sons of God.

Mlton

3. Scrupulously faithful or exact; strict.

Thus, Indianlike, Religious in my error, I adore The sun, that looks upon his worshiper.

Shak.

4. Belonging to a religious order; bound by vows.

One of them is religious.

Chaucer.

Syn. -- Pious; godly; holy; devout; devotional; conscientious; strict; rogod; exact.

Re*li"gious, n. A person bound by monastic vows, or sequestered from secular concern, and devoted to a life of piety and religion; a monk or friar; a nun. Addison.

Re*li"gious*ly, adv. In a religious manner. Drayton.

Re*li"gious*ness, n. The quality of being religious.

Rel"ik (r?l"?k), n. Relic. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Re*lin"quent (r?-l?n"kwent), a. [L. relinquens, p. pr. of relinqquere. See Relinquish.] Relinquishing. [R.]

Re*lin"quent, n. One who relinquishes. [R.]

Re*lin"quish (-kw?sh), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Relinquished (-kw?sht); p. pr. & vb. n. Relinquishing.] [OF. relinquir, L. relinquere to leave behind; pref. re- re + linquere to leave. See Loan, and cf. Relic, Relict.]

1. To withdraw from; to leave behind; to desist from; to abandon; to quit; as, to relinquish a pursuit.

We ought to relinquish such rites.

Hooker.

They placed Irish tenants upon the lands relinquished by the English.

Sir J. Davies.

2. To give up; to renounce a claim to; resign; as, to relinquish a debt.

Syn. -- To resign; leave; quit; forsake; abandon; desert; renounce; forb&?;ar; forego. See Resign.

Re*lin"quish*er (-r?r), n. One who relinquishes.

Re*lin"quish*ment (-ment), n. The act of relinquishing.

Rel"i*qua*ry (r?l"?-kw?-r?), n.; pl. -ries (-rz). [LL. reliquiarium, reliquiare: cf. F. reliquaire. See Relic.] A depositary, often a small box or casket, in which relics are kept.

Re*lique" (r?-l?k"), n. [F.] See Relic. Chaucer.

||Re*liq"ui*æ (r?-l?k"w?-?), n. pl. [L. See Relic.]

1. Remains of the dead; organic remains; relics.

2. (Bot.) Same as Induviæ.

<! p. 1215 !>

Re*liq"ui*an (r?-l?k"w?-an), a. Of or pertaining to a relic or relics; of the nature of a relic. [R.]

Re*liq"ui*date (r?-l?k"w?-d?t), v. t. To liquidate anew; to adjust a second time.

Re*liq`ui*da"tion (-d"sh?n), n. A second or renewed liquidation; a renewed adjustment. A. Hamilton.

Rel"ish (r?l"?sh), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Relished (-&?;sht); p. pr. & vb. n. Relishing.] [Of. relechier to lick or taste anew; pref. re- re-+ lechier to lick, F. l&?;cher. See Lecher, Lick.] 1. To taste or eat with pleasure; to like the flavor of; to partake of with gratification; hence, to enjoy; to be pleased with or gratified by; to experience pleasure from; as, to relish food.

Now I begin to relish thy advice.

Shak.

He knows how to prize his advantages, and to relish the honors which he enjoys.

Atterbury.

2. To give a relish to; to cause to taste agreeably.

A savory bit that served to relish wine.

Dryden.

Rel"ish, v. i. To have a pleasing or appetizing taste; to give gratification; to have a flavor.

Had I been the finder-out of this secret, it would not have relished among my other discredits.

Shak.

A theory, which, how much soever it may relish of wit and invention, hath no foundation in nature.

Woodward.

Rel"ish, n. 1. A pleasing taste; flavor that gratifies the palate; hence, enjoyable quality; power of pleasing.

Much pleasure we have lost while we abstained From this delightful fruit, nor known till now True relish, tasting.

Milton.

When liberty is gone, Life grows insipid, and has lost its relish.

Addison.

2. Savor; quality; characteristic tinge.

It preserve some relish of old writing.

Pope.

3. A taste for; liking; appetite; fondness.

A relish for whatever was excelent in arts.

Macaulay.

I have a relish for moderate praise, because it bids fair to be j&?;dicious.

Cowper.

4. That which is used to impart a flavor; specifically, something taken with food to render it more palatable or to stimulate the appetite; a condiment.

Syn. -- Taste; savor; flavor; appetite; zest; gusto; liking; delight.

Rel"ish, n. (Carp.) The projection or shoulder at the side of, or around, a tenon, on a tenoned piece. Knight.

Rel"ish*a*ble (-?-b'l), a. Capable of being relished; agreeable to the taste; gratifying.

Re*live" (r?-l?v"), v. i. To live again; to revive.

Re*live", v. t. To recall to life; to revive. [Obs.]

Re*load" (r?-l?d"), v. t. To load again, as a gun.

Re*loan" (r?-l?n"), n. A second lending of the same thing; a renewal of a loan.

Re*lo"cate (r?-l?"k?t), v. t. To locate again.