From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Relax \Re*lax"\ (r?-l?ks"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Relaxed}
(-l?kst"); p. pr. & vb. n. {Relaxing}.] [L. relaxare; pref.
re- re- + laxare to loose, to slacken, from laxus loose. See
{Lax}, and cf. {Relay}, n., {Release}.]
1. 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.
[1913 Webster]
Horror . . . all his joints relaxed. --Milton.
[1913 Webster]
Nor served it to relax their serried files.
--Milton.
[1913 Webster]
2. To make less severe or rigorous; to abate the stringency
of; to remit in respect to strenuousness, earnestness, or
effort; as, to relax discipline; to relax one's attention
or endeavors.
[1913 Webster]
The statute of mortmain was at several times relaxed
by the legislature. --Swift.
[1913 Webster]
3. Hence, to relieve from attention or effort; to ease; to
recreate; to divert; as, amusement relaxes the mind.
[1913 Webster]
4. To relieve from constipation; to loosen; to open; as, an
aperient relaxes the bowels.
[1913 Webster]
Syn: To slacken; loosen; loose; remit; abate; mitigate; ease;
unbend; divert.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
relaxing
adj 1: affording physical or mental rest; "she spent a restful
night at home" [syn: {restful}, {reposeful}, {relaxing}]
[ant: {restless}, {uneasy}]
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