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Rest; relaxation; ease. [Obs.] To make his steed some solace. Chaucer.

Relaxed; open or readily opened. [R.] "The bowels must be kept soluble." Dunglison. Soluble glass. (Chem.) See under Glass.

Relaxed; hence; merry; cheerful. [R.] A brow solute, and ever-laughing eye. Young.

Soon relaxed or exhausted; convulsive; intermittent; as, spasmodic zeal or industry. Spasmodic croup (Med.), an affection of childhood characterized by a stoppage of brathing developed suddenly and without fever, and produced by spasmodic contraction of the vocal cords. It is sometimes fatal. Called also laryngismus st…

To assume a spread-eagled position; -- it may be done reclining, for relaxation, or momentarily, as an exhibitionary maneuver in a sport.

t be directed to the same object, -- a defect due either to undue contraction or to undue relaxation of one or more of the muscles which move the eyeball; squinting; cross-eye.

Tense; not relaxed; as, a strict fiber.

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…

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.

Made, as a vowel, with a less tense, and more open and relaxed, condition of the mouth organs; -- opposed to primary as used by Mr. Bell, and to narrow as used by Mr. Sweet. The effect, as explained by Mr. Bell, is due to the relaxation or tension of the pharynx; as explained by Mr. Sweet and others, it is due to the a…