RELENT • DICCIONARIO INGLES.COM • Definition of Relent

Add this Dictionary
to your website!
See more options...

/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."

See images of 'Relent'

Etymology of 'Relent'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

Share |

"Relent" Quotes from Famous Books

... for the consulship; when, however, the people began to relent and incline to favor him, being sensible what a shame it would be to repulse and affront a man of his birth and merit, after he had done them so many signal services. It was usual for those who stood for offices among them to solicit and address themselves personally to the citizens, presenting themselves ...

— Plutarch's Lives • A.H. Clough

... request of the Pharaoh Mosche made the scourge cease. An extremely violent west wind carried all the grasshoppers into the Sea of Weeds; but the Pharaoh's obstinate heart, harder than brass, porphyry, or basalt, would not relent. ...

— The Works of Theophile Gautier, Volume 5 - The Romance of a Mummy and Egypt • Theophile Gautier

... money which I offered him, and likewise a seat in the buggy. I watched his departure with joy and terror,—for at any moment he might relent and stay nor was I at ease in my mind until I saw Andrew ...

— Humorous Masterpieces from American Literature • Various

... tear it off, he begged him in the most moving terms to leave it, because it had been given to him by his lady, who would never forgive the loss of it. However it happened, he who first went to take it off, seemed to relent at the fellow's repeated entreaties, but Wilson catching hold of the fellow's hand, dragged it off at once, saying at the same time, Sirrah, I suppose you are your lady's stallion, and the ring comes as honestly to us ...

— Lives Of The Most Remarkable Criminals Who have been Condemned and Executed for Murder, the Highway, Housebreaking, Street Robberies, Coining or other offences • Arthur L. Hayward

... it was not taken. He waited a little, in the vain hope that she would relent: she ...

— The Guilty River • Wilkie Collins

More quotes...