To make lax or loose; to make less close, firm, rigid, tense, or the like; to slacken; to loosen; to open; as, to relax a rope or cord; to relax the muscles or sinews. Horror . . . all his joints relaxed. Milton. Nor served it to relax their serried files. Milton.
To make less severe or rogorous; to abate the stringency of; to remit in respect to strenuousness, esrnestness, or effort; as, to relax discipline; to relax one's attention or endeavors. The stature of mortmain was at several times relaxed by the legilature. Swift.
Hence, to relieve from attention or effort; to ease; to recreate; to divert; as, amusement relaxes the mind.
To relieve from constipation; to loosen; to open; as, an aperient relaxes the bowels.
To become lax, weak, or loose; as, to let one's grasp relax. His knees relax with toil. Pope.
To abate in severity; to become less rigorous. In others she relaxed again, And governed with a looser rein. Prior.
To remit attention or effort; to become less diligent; to unbend; as, to relax in study.
Relaxation. [Obs.] Feltham.
Relaxed; lax; hence, remiss; careless.
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