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from Swingle, v. t. Swingling tow, the coarse part of flax, separated from the finer by swingling and hatcheling.

Prophylaxis. [Obs.]

That department of medicine which relates to the preservation of health; prophylaxis. [Obs.]

bout the year 1850. -- Australian, or Botany Bay, tea (Bot.), a woody clambing plant (Smilax glycyphylla). -- Brazilian tea. (a) The dried leaves of Lantana pseodothea, used in Brazil as a substitute for tea. (b) The dried leaves of Stachytarpheta mutabilis, used for adulterating tea, and also, in Austria, for prepar…

To comb or card, as wool or flax. "Teasing matted wool." Wordsworth.

Stretched tightly; strained to stiffness; rigid; not lax; as, a tense fiber. The temples were sunk, her forehead was tense, and a fatal paleness was upon her. Goldsmith. -- Tense"ly, adv. -- Tense"ness, n.

To beat; to break, as flax or hemp. [Obs.] Mortimer.

A very small twist of flax, wool, cotton, silk, or other fibrous substance, drawn out to considerable length; a compound cord consisting of two or more single yarns doubled, or joined together, and twisted.

Fig.: To moderate or relax; to diminish or weaken the striking characteristics of; to soften. The best method for the purpose in hand was to employ some one of a character and position suited to get possession of their confidence, and then use it to tone down their religious strictures. Palfrey. -- To tone up, to cause…

The coarse and broken part of flax or hemp, separated from the finer part by the hatchel or swingle.

A remit from a strain or from exertion; to set at ease for a time; to relax; as, to unbend the mind from study or care. You do unbend your noble strength. Shak.

Devoted to relaxation or amusement. [R.] It may entertain your lordships at an unbending hour. Rowe. -- Un*bend"ing*ly, adv. -- Un*bend"ing*ness, n.

To free from tension; to relax; to loose; as, to unbrace a drum; to unbrace the nerves. Spenser.

To yield; to relax; to give way. [Obs.]

To relieve from a strain; to relax. B. Jonson.

To relax the tension of; to loosen. "His garland they unstring." Dryden.

Causing dilation or relaxation of the blood vessels; as, the vasodilator nerves, stimulation of which causes dilation of the blood vessels to which they go. These nerves are also called vaso- inhibitory, and vasohypotonic nerves, since their stimulation causes relaxation and rest.

A road way. Via Lactea Etym: [L.] (Anat.), the Milky Way, or Galaxy. See Galaxy, 1. -- Via media Etym: [L.] (Theol.), the middle way; -- a name applied to their own position by the Anglican high-churchmen, as being between the Roman Catholic Church and what they term extreme Protestantism.

To ret, or rot, in water, as flax; to water-rot.

To rot by steeping in water; to water-ret; as, to water-rot hemp or flax.