relent — [ rəlɑ̃ ] n. m. • relans XIVe; relent, relente adj. « qui a un goût écœurant » 1200; re intensif et lat. lentus « tenace, humide » ♦ (Souvent au plur.) Mauvaise odeur qui persiste. Relents d alcool, de graillon. « Une puanteur de poubelle et de… … Encyclopédie Universelle
relent — RELENT, [rel]ente. adj. Qui sent l enfermé, le moisi. Cette viande est relente. une vapeur relente. un air relent. Il est plus en usage au substantif. Cela sent le relent, a un goust de relent, une senteur de relent. l odeur du relent est fort… … Dictionnaire de l'Académie française
Relent — 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… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Relent — Re*lent , v. t. 1. To slacken; to abate. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] And oftentimes he would relent his pace. Spenser. [1913 Webster] 2. To soften; to dissolve. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] 3. To mollify; to cause to be less harsh or severe. [Obs.] [1913… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Relent — Re*lent (r? l?nt ), n. Stay; stop; delay. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] Nor rested till she came without relent Unto the land of Amazons. Spenser. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
relent — [ri lent′] vi. [ME relenten, to melt, ult. < L < re , again + lentus, flexible, pliant, slow: see LITHE] 1. to soften in temper, resolution, etc.; become less severe, stern, or stubborn 2. Obs. to melt vt. Obs. to cause to relent SYN. YIELD … English World dictionary
relent — (v.) late 14c., to melt, soften, dissolve, from re , intensive prefix, + L. lentus slow, viscous, supple (see LITHE (Cf. lithe)). Sense of become less harsh or cruel first recorded 1520s. The notion probably is of a hard heart melting with pity.… … Etymology dictionary
relent — *yield, submit, capitulate, succumb, defer, bow, cave Analogous words: comply, acquiesce (see corresponding adjectives at COMPLIANT): forbear, *refrain, abstain: *abate, subside, wane, ebb … New Dictionary of Synonyms
relent — [v] die down; let up acquiesce, be merciful, capitulate, cave in*, change one’s mind, come around, comply, cool it*, cry uncle*, die away, drop, ease, ease off, ease up on*, ebb, fall, fold, forbear, give in, give quarter*, give some slack*, give … New thesaurus
relent — ► VERB 1) abandon or moderate a harsh intention or cruel treatment. 2) become less intense. ORIGIN originally in the sense «dissolve»: from Latin re back + lentare to bend … English terms dictionary
