"relent" meaning in English

See relent in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Adjective

IPA: /ɹɪˈlɛnt/ Audio: LL-Q1860 (eng)-Mélange a trois-relent.wav [UK] Forms: more relent [comparative], most relent [superlative]
Rhymes: -ɛnt Etymology: From Middle English relenten, from Anglo-Norman relentir, from Latin re- + lentare (“to bend”), from lentus (“soft, pliant, slow”). Earliest recording dates to 1526. Etymology templates: {{inh|en|enm|relenten}} Middle English relenten, {{der|en|xno|relentir}} Anglo-Norman relentir, {{der|en|la|re-}} Latin re-, {{m|la|lentare||to bend}} lentare (“to bend”), {{m|la|lentus||soft, pliant, slow}} lentus (“soft, pliant, slow”) Head templates: {{en-adj}} relent (comparative more relent, superlative most relent)
  1. (obsolete) softhearted; yielding Tags: obsolete
    Sense id: en-relent-en-adj-q0-Newu3

Noun

IPA: /ɹɪˈlɛnt/ Audio: LL-Q1860 (eng)-Mélange a trois-relent.wav [UK] Forms: relents [plural]
Rhymes: -ɛnt Etymology: From Middle English relenten, from Anglo-Norman relentir, from Latin re- + lentare (“to bend”), from lentus (“soft, pliant, slow”). Earliest recording dates to 1526. Etymology templates: {{inh|en|enm|relenten}} Middle English relenten, {{der|en|xno|relentir}} Anglo-Norman relentir, {{der|en|la|re-}} Latin re-, {{m|la|lentare||to bend}} lentare (“to bend”), {{m|la|lentus||soft, pliant, slow}} lentus (“soft, pliant, slow”) Head templates: {{en-noun}} relent (plural relents)
  1. Stay; stop; delay. Translations (stop, delay): verblijf [neuter] (Dutch), oponthoud [neuter] (Dutch), viivästys (Finnish), pysähdys (Finnish), se retirer (French)
    Sense id: en-relent-en-noun-fu18C2of Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 3 36 3 18 5 3 33 Disambiguation of 'stop, delay': 98 2
  2. (obsolete) A relenting. Tags: obsolete
    Sense id: en-relent-en-noun-hOkr50OP
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Derived forms: relentless

Verb

IPA: /ɹɪˈlɛnt/ Audio: LL-Q1860 (eng)-Mélange a trois-relent.wav [UK] Forms: relents [present, singular, third-person], relenting [participle, present], relented [participle, past], relented [past]
Rhymes: -ɛnt Etymology: From Middle English relenten, from Anglo-Norman relentir, from Latin re- + lentare (“to bend”), from lentus (“soft, pliant, slow”). Earliest recording dates to 1526. Etymology templates: {{inh|en|enm|relenten}} Middle English relenten, {{der|en|xno|relentir}} Anglo-Norman relentir, {{der|en|la|re-}} Latin re-, {{m|la|lentare||to bend}} lentare (“to bend”), {{m|la|lentus||soft, pliant, slow}} lentus (“soft, pliant, slow”) Head templates: {{en-verb}} relent (third-person singular simple present relents, present participle relenting, simple past and past participle relented)
  1. (intransitive) To give in or be swayed; to become less hard, harsh, or cruel; to show clemency. Tags: intransitive Translations (become less severe, give in): омилостивявам се (omilostivjavam se) (Bulgarian), smilovat se (Czech), obměkčit se (Czech), slitovat se (Czech), milderen (Dutch), verzachten (Dutch), lauhtua (Finnish), leppyä (Finnish), nachgeben (German), cedere (Italian), whakangāwari (Maori), māriri (Maori), نرم شدن (narm šodan) (Persian), a se înmuia (Romanian), смягча́ться (smjaxčátʹsja) (Russian), ceder (Spanish)
    Sense id: en-relent-en-verb-g5~fsMex Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 3 36 3 18 5 3 33 Disambiguation of 'become less severe, give in': 69 2 14 15
  2. (intransitive) To slacken; to abate. Tags: intransitive Translations (slacken, abate): стихвам (stihvam) (Bulgarian), ochabnout (Czech), verslappen (Dutch), laantua (Finnish), nachlassen (German), placare (Italian), whakangoru (Maori), māwhe (Maori), tāngangao (Maori), ceder (Spanish)
    Sense id: en-relent-en-verb-kblYIzxy Disambiguation of 'slacken, abate': 4 72 14 10
  3. (obsolete, transitive) To lessen, make less severe or intense. Tags: obsolete, transitive
    Sense id: en-relent-en-verb-aDgEVA4u
  4. (dated, intransitive, of substance) To become less rigid or hard; to soften; to yield, for example by dissolving or melting Tags: dated, intransitive Translations (become less rigid, yield): омеквам (omekvam) (Bulgarian), změknout (Czech), povolit (Czech), verzachten (Dutch), oplossen (Dutch), smelten (Dutch), meegeven (Dutch), ontspannen (Dutch), pehmetä (Finnish), taipua (Finnish), nachgeben (German), whakangāwari (Maori), ngawhere (Maori), hauraro (Maori)
    Sense id: en-relent-en-verb-DBZ-bqFb Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 3 36 3 18 5 3 33 Disambiguation of 'become less rigid, yield': 28 3 13 56

Inflected forms

Download JSON data for relent meaning in English (13.6kB)

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          "ref": "2016, Colson Whitehead, The Underground Railroad, Fleet (2017), page 193",
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          "_dis1": "98 2",
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          "_dis1": "98 2",
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          "sense": "stop, delay",
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        "(obsolete) A relenting."
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  "etymology_text": "From Middle English relenten, from Anglo-Norman relentir, from Latin re- + lentare (“to bend”), from lentus (“soft, pliant, slow”). Earliest recording dates to 1526.",
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          "type": "example"
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          "text": "I did, I suppose, hope that she might finally relent a little and make some conciliatory response or other.",
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        "(intransitive) To give in or be swayed; to become less hard, harsh, or cruel; to show clemency."
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        {
          "_dis1": "69 2 14 15",
          "code": "bg",
          "lang": "Bulgarian",
          "roman": "omilostivjavam se",
          "sense": "become less severe, give in",
          "word": "омилостивявам се"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "69 2 14 15",
          "code": "cs",
          "lang": "Czech",
          "sense": "become less severe, give in",
          "word": "smilovat se"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "69 2 14 15",
          "code": "cs",
          "lang": "Czech",
          "sense": "become less severe, give in",
          "word": "obměkčit se"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "69 2 14 15",
          "code": "cs",
          "lang": "Czech",
          "sense": "become less severe, give in",
          "word": "slitovat se"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "69 2 14 15",
          "code": "nl",
          "lang": "Dutch",
          "sense": "become less severe, give in",
          "word": "milderen"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "69 2 14 15",
          "code": "nl",
          "lang": "Dutch",
          "sense": "become less severe, give in",
          "word": "verzachten"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "69 2 14 15",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "become less severe, give in",
          "word": "lauhtua"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "69 2 14 15",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "become less severe, give in",
          "word": "leppyä"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "69 2 14 15",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "become less severe, give in",
          "word": "nachgeben"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "69 2 14 15",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "become less severe, give in",
          "word": "cedere"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "69 2 14 15",
          "code": "mi",
          "lang": "Maori",
          "sense": "become less severe, give in",
          "word": "whakangāwari"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "69 2 14 15",
          "code": "mi",
          "lang": "Maori",
          "sense": "become less severe, give in",
          "word": "māriri"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "69 2 14 15",
          "code": "fa",
          "lang": "Persian",
          "roman": "narm šodan",
          "sense": "become less severe, give in",
          "word": "نرم شدن"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "69 2 14 15",
          "code": "ro",
          "lang": "Romanian",
          "sense": "become less severe, give in",
          "word": "a se înmuia"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "69 2 14 15",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "smjaxčátʹsja",
          "sense": "become less severe, give in",
          "word": "смягча́ться"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "69 2 14 15",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "become less severe, give in",
          "word": "ceder"
        }
      ]
    },
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      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "We waited for the storm to relent before we ventured outside.",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "text": "He will not relent in his effort to reclaim his victory.",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To slacken; to abate."
      ],
      "id": "en-relent-en-verb-kblYIzxy",
      "links": [
        [
          "slacken",
          "slacken"
        ],
        [
          "abate",
          "abate"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(intransitive) To slacken; to abate."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "intransitive"
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "4 72 14 10",
          "code": "bg",
          "lang": "Bulgarian",
          "roman": "stihvam",
          "sense": "slacken, abate",
          "word": "стихвам"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "4 72 14 10",
          "code": "cs",
          "lang": "Czech",
          "sense": "slacken, abate",
          "word": "ochabnout"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "4 72 14 10",
          "code": "nl",
          "lang": "Dutch",
          "sense": "slacken, abate",
          "word": "verslappen"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "4 72 14 10",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "slacken, abate",
          "word": "laantua"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "4 72 14 10",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "slacken, abate",
          "word": "nachlassen"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "4 72 14 10",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "slacken, abate",
          "word": "placare"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "4 72 14 10",
          "code": "mi",
          "lang": "Maori",
          "sense": "slacken, abate",
          "word": "whakangoru"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "4 72 14 10",
          "code": "mi",
          "lang": "Maori",
          "sense": "slacken, abate",
          "word": "māwhe"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "4 72 14 10",
          "code": "mi",
          "lang": "Maori",
          "sense": "slacken, abate",
          "word": "tāngangao"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "4 72 14 10",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "slacken, abate",
          "word": "ceder"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [],
      "glosses": [
        "To lessen, make less severe or intense."
      ],
      "id": "en-relent-en-verb-aDgEVA4u",
      "links": [
        [
          "lessen",
          "lessen"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(obsolete, transitive) To lessen, make less severe or intense."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "obsolete",
        "transitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "3 36 3 18 5 3 33",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
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            "Entries with incorrect language header",
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          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
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      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1669, Robert Boyle, The History of Fluidity and Firmness",
          "text": "[Salt of tartar] placed in a cellar will […] begin to relent.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To become less rigid or hard; to soften; to yield, for example by dissolving or melting"
      ],
      "id": "en-relent-en-verb-DBZ-bqFb",
      "links": [
        [
          "rigid",
          "rigid"
        ],
        [
          "hard",
          "hard"
        ],
        [
          "soften",
          "soften"
        ],
        [
          "yield",
          "yield"
        ],
        [
          "dissolving",
          "dissolve"
        ],
        [
          "melt",
          "melt"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(dated, intransitive, of substance) To become less rigid or hard; to soften; to yield, for example by dissolving or melting"
      ],
      "raw_tags": [
        "of substance"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "dated",
        "intransitive"
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "28 3 13 56",
          "code": "bg",
          "lang": "Bulgarian",
          "roman": "omekvam",
          "sense": "become less rigid, yield",
          "word": "омеквам"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "28 3 13 56",
          "code": "cs",
          "lang": "Czech",
          "sense": "become less rigid, yield",
          "word": "změknout"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "28 3 13 56",
          "code": "cs",
          "lang": "Czech",
          "sense": "become less rigid, yield",
          "word": "povolit"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "28 3 13 56",
          "code": "nl",
          "lang": "Dutch",
          "sense": "become less rigid, yield",
          "word": "verzachten"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "28 3 13 56",
          "code": "nl",
          "lang": "Dutch",
          "sense": "become less rigid, yield",
          "word": "oplossen"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "28 3 13 56",
          "code": "nl",
          "lang": "Dutch",
          "sense": "become less rigid, yield",
          "word": "smelten"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "28 3 13 56",
          "code": "nl",
          "lang": "Dutch",
          "sense": "become less rigid, yield",
          "word": "meegeven"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "28 3 13 56",
          "code": "nl",
          "lang": "Dutch",
          "sense": "become less rigid, yield",
          "word": "ontspannen"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "28 3 13 56",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "become less rigid, yield",
          "word": "pehmetä"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "28 3 13 56",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "become less rigid, yield",
          "word": "taipua"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "28 3 13 56",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "become less rigid, yield",
          "word": "nachgeben"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "28 3 13 56",
          "code": "mi",
          "lang": "Maori",
          "sense": "become less rigid, yield",
          "word": "whakangāwari"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "28 3 13 56",
          "code": "mi",
          "lang": "Maori",
          "sense": "become less rigid, yield",
          "word": "ngawhere"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "28 3 13 56",
          "code": "mi",
          "lang": "Maori",
          "sense": "become less rigid, yield",
          "word": "hauraro"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ɹɪˈlɛnt/"
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-ɛnt"
    },
    {
      "audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Mélange a trois-relent.wav",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/1/1f/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-M%C3%A9lange_a_trois-relent.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-M%C3%A9lange_a_trois-relent.wav.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/1/1f/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-M%C3%A9lange_a_trois-relent.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-M%C3%A9lange_a_trois-relent.wav.ogg",
      "tags": [
        "UK"
      ],
      "text": "Audio (UK)"
    }
  ],
  "word": "relent"
}

{
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "enm",
        "3": "relenten"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle English relenten",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "xno",
        "3": "relentir"
      },
      "expansion": "Anglo-Norman relentir",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "la",
        "3": "re-"
      },
      "expansion": "Latin re-",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "la",
        "2": "lentare",
        "3": "",
        "4": "to bend"
      },
      "expansion": "lentare (“to bend”)",
      "name": "m"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "la",
        "2": "lentus",
        "3": "",
        "4": "soft, pliant, slow"
      },
      "expansion": "lentus (“soft, pliant, slow”)",
      "name": "m"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Middle English relenten, from Anglo-Norman relentir, from Latin re- + lentare (“to bend”), from lentus (“soft, pliant, slow”). Earliest recording dates to 1526.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "more relent",
      "tags": [
        "comparative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "most relent",
      "tags": [
        "superlative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "relent (comparative more relent, superlative most relent)",
      "name": "en-adj"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "adj",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [],
      "glosses": [
        "softhearted; yielding"
      ],
      "id": "en-relent-en-adj-q0-Newu3",
      "links": [
        [
          "softhearted",
          "softhearted"
        ],
        [
          "yielding",
          "yielding"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(obsolete) softhearted; yielding"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "obsolete"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ɹɪˈlɛnt/"
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-ɛnt"
    },
    {
      "audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Mélange a trois-relent.wav",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/1/1f/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-M%C3%A9lange_a_trois-relent.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-M%C3%A9lange_a_trois-relent.wav.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/1/1f/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-M%C3%A9lange_a_trois-relent.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-M%C3%A9lange_a_trois-relent.wav.ogg",
      "tags": [
        "UK"
      ],
      "text": "Audio (UK)"
    }
  ],
  "word": "relent"
}
{
  "categories": [
    "English 2-syllable words",
    "English adjectives",
    "English countable nouns",
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English lemmas",
    "English nouns",
    "English terms derived from Anglo-Norman",
    "English terms derived from Latin",
    "English terms derived from Middle English",
    "English terms inherited from Middle English",
    "English terms with IPA pronunciation",
    "English terms with audio links",
    "English verbs",
    "Requests for review of Dutch translations",
    "Rhymes:English/ɛnt",
    "Rhymes:English/ɛnt/2 syllables"
  ],
  "derived": [
    {
      "word": "relentless"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "enm",
        "3": "relenten"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle English relenten",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "xno",
        "3": "relentir"
      },
      "expansion": "Anglo-Norman relentir",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "la",
        "3": "re-"
      },
      "expansion": "Latin re-",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "la",
        "2": "lentare",
        "3": "",
        "4": "to bend"
      },
      "expansion": "lentare (“to bend”)",
      "name": "m"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "la",
        "2": "lentus",
        "3": "",
        "4": "soft, pliant, slow"
      },
      "expansion": "lentus (“soft, pliant, slow”)",
      "name": "m"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Middle English relenten, from Anglo-Norman relentir, from Latin re- + lentare (“to bend”), from lentus (“soft, pliant, slow”). Earliest recording dates to 1526.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "relents",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "relent (plural relents)",
      "name": "en-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with quotations"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "2015, Mel Parsons (lyrics and music), “First Sign of Trouble”",
          "text": "There was no relent, my dear, as we pulled each other in.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2016, Colson Whitehead, The Underground Railroad, Fleet (2017), page 193",
          "text": "The pistons of this engine moved without relent.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Stay; stop; delay."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "Stay",
          "stay"
        ],
        [
          "stop",
          "stop"
        ],
        [
          "delay",
          "delay"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with obsolete senses"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A relenting."
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(obsolete) A relenting."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "obsolete"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ɹɪˈlɛnt/"
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-ɛnt"
    },
    {
      "audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Mélange a trois-relent.wav",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/1/1f/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-M%C3%A9lange_a_trois-relent.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-M%C3%A9lange_a_trois-relent.wav.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/1/1f/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-M%C3%A9lange_a_trois-relent.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-M%C3%A9lange_a_trois-relent.wav.ogg",
      "tags": [
        "UK"
      ],
      "text": "Audio (UK)"
    }
  ],
  "translations": [
    {
      "code": "nl",
      "lang": "Dutch",
      "sense": "stop, delay",
      "tags": [
        "neuter"
      ],
      "word": "verblijf"
    },
    {
      "code": "nl",
      "lang": "Dutch",
      "sense": "stop, delay",
      "tags": [
        "neuter"
      ],
      "word": "oponthoud"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "stop, delay",
      "word": "viivästys"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "stop, delay",
      "word": "pysähdys"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "stop, delay",
      "word": "se retirer"
    }
  ],
  "word": "relent"
}

{
  "categories": [
    "English 2-syllable words",
    "English adjectives",
    "English countable nouns",
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English lemmas",
    "English nouns",
    "English terms derived from Anglo-Norman",
    "English terms derived from Latin",
    "English terms derived from Middle English",
    "English terms inherited from Middle English",
    "English terms with IPA pronunciation",
    "English terms with audio links",
    "English verbs",
    "Requests for review of Dutch translations",
    "Rhymes:English/ɛnt",
    "Rhymes:English/ɛnt/2 syllables"
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "enm",
        "3": "relenten"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle English relenten",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "xno",
        "3": "relentir"
      },
      "expansion": "Anglo-Norman relentir",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "la",
        "3": "re-"
      },
      "expansion": "Latin re-",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "la",
        "2": "lentare",
        "3": "",
        "4": "to bend"
      },
      "expansion": "lentare (“to bend”)",
      "name": "m"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "la",
        "2": "lentus",
        "3": "",
        "4": "soft, pliant, slow"
      },
      "expansion": "lentus (“soft, pliant, slow”)",
      "name": "m"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Middle English relenten, from Anglo-Norman relentir, from Latin re- + lentare (“to bend”), from lentus (“soft, pliant, slow”). Earliest recording dates to 1526.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "relents",
      "tags": [
        "present",
        "singular",
        "third-person"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "relenting",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "relented",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "relented",
      "tags": [
        "past"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "relent (third-person singular simple present relents, present participle relenting, simple past and past participle relented)",
      "name": "en-verb"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "verb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English intransitive verbs",
        "English terms with quotations",
        "English terms with usage examples",
        "Quotation templates to be cleaned"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "He had planned to ground his son for a month, but relented and decided to give him a stern lecture instead.",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1989, Kazuo Ishiguro, The Remains of the Day",
          "text": "I did, I suppose, hope that she might finally relent a little and make some conciliatory response or other.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To give in or be swayed; to become less hard, harsh, or cruel; to show clemency."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "give in",
          "give in"
        ],
        [
          "swayed",
          "swayed"
        ],
        [
          "harsh",
          "harsh"
        ],
        [
          "cruel",
          "cruel"
        ],
        [
          "clemency",
          "clemency"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(intransitive) To give in or be swayed; to become less hard, harsh, or cruel; to show clemency."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "intransitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English intransitive verbs",
        "English terms with usage examples"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "We waited for the storm to relent before we ventured outside.",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "text": "He will not relent in his effort to reclaim his victory.",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To slacken; to abate."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "slacken",
          "slacken"
        ],
        [
          "abate",
          "abate"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(intransitive) To slacken; to abate."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "intransitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with obsolete senses",
        "English transitive verbs"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To lessen, make less severe or intense."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "lessen",
          "lessen"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(obsolete, transitive) To lessen, make less severe or intense."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "obsolete",
        "transitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English dated terms",
        "English intransitive verbs",
        "English terms with quotations",
        "Quotation templates to be cleaned"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1669, Robert Boyle, The History of Fluidity and Firmness",
          "text": "[Salt of tartar] placed in a cellar will […] begin to relent.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To become less rigid or hard; to soften; to yield, for example by dissolving or melting"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "rigid",
          "rigid"
        ],
        [
          "hard",
          "hard"
        ],
        [
          "soften",
          "soften"
        ],
        [
          "yield",
          "yield"
        ],
        [
          "dissolving",
          "dissolve"
        ],
        [
          "melt",
          "melt"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(dated, intransitive, of substance) To become less rigid or hard; to soften; to yield, for example by dissolving or melting"
      ],
      "raw_tags": [
        "of substance"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "dated",
        "intransitive"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ɹɪˈlɛnt/"
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-ɛnt"
    },
    {
      "audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Mélange a trois-relent.wav",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/1/1f/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-M%C3%A9lange_a_trois-relent.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-M%C3%A9lange_a_trois-relent.wav.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/1/1f/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-M%C3%A9lange_a_trois-relent.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-M%C3%A9lange_a_trois-relent.wav.ogg",
      "tags": [
        "UK"
      ],
      "text": "Audio (UK)"
    }
  ],
  "translations": [
    {
      "code": "bg",
      "lang": "Bulgarian",
      "roman": "omilostivjavam se",
      "sense": "become less severe, give in",
      "word": "омилостивявам се"
    },
    {
      "code": "cs",
      "lang": "Czech",
      "sense": "become less severe, give in",
      "word": "smilovat se"
    },
    {
      "code": "cs",
      "lang": "Czech",
      "sense": "become less severe, give in",
      "word": "obměkčit se"
    },
    {
      "code": "cs",
      "lang": "Czech",
      "sense": "become less severe, give in",
      "word": "slitovat se"
    },
    {
      "code": "nl",
      "lang": "Dutch",
      "sense": "become less severe, give in",
      "word": "milderen"
    },
    {
      "code": "nl",
      "lang": "Dutch",
      "sense": "become less severe, give in",
      "word": "verzachten"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "become less severe, give in",
      "word": "lauhtua"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "become less severe, give in",
      "word": "leppyä"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "become less severe, give in",
      "word": "nachgeben"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "become less severe, give in",
      "word": "cedere"
    },
    {
      "code": "mi",
      "lang": "Maori",
      "sense": "become less severe, give in",
      "word": "whakangāwari"
    },
    {
      "code": "mi",
      "lang": "Maori",
      "sense": "become less severe, give in",
      "word": "māriri"
    },
    {
      "code": "fa",
      "lang": "Persian",
      "roman": "narm šodan",
      "sense": "become less severe, give in",
      "word": "نرم شدن"
    },
    {
      "code": "ro",
      "lang": "Romanian",
      "sense": "become less severe, give in",
      "word": "a se înmuia"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "smjaxčátʹsja",
      "sense": "become less severe, give in",
      "word": "смягча́ться"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "become less severe, give in",
      "word": "ceder"
    },
    {
      "code": "bg",
      "lang": "Bulgarian",
      "roman": "stihvam",
      "sense": "slacken, abate",
      "word": "стихвам"
    },
    {
      "code": "cs",
      "lang": "Czech",
      "sense": "slacken, abate",
      "word": "ochabnout"
    },
    {
      "code": "nl",
      "lang": "Dutch",
      "sense": "slacken, abate",
      "word": "verslappen"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "slacken, abate",
      "word": "laantua"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "slacken, abate",
      "word": "nachlassen"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "slacken, abate",
      "word": "placare"
    },
    {
      "code": "mi",
      "lang": "Maori",
      "sense": "slacken, abate",
      "word": "whakangoru"
    },
    {
      "code": "mi",
      "lang": "Maori",
      "sense": "slacken, abate",
      "word": "māwhe"
    },
    {
      "code": "mi",
      "lang": "Maori",
      "sense": "slacken, abate",
      "word": "tāngangao"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "slacken, abate",
      "word": "ceder"
    },
    {
      "code": "bg",
      "lang": "Bulgarian",
      "roman": "omekvam",
      "sense": "become less rigid, yield",
      "word": "омеквам"
    },
    {
      "code": "cs",
      "lang": "Czech",
      "sense": "become less rigid, yield",
      "word": "změknout"
    },
    {
      "code": "cs",
      "lang": "Czech",
      "sense": "become less rigid, yield",
      "word": "povolit"
    },
    {
      "code": "nl",
      "lang": "Dutch",
      "sense": "become less rigid, yield",
      "word": "verzachten"
    },
    {
      "code": "nl",
      "lang": "Dutch",
      "sense": "become less rigid, yield",
      "word": "oplossen"
    },
    {
      "code": "nl",
      "lang": "Dutch",
      "sense": "become less rigid, yield",
      "word": "smelten"
    },
    {
      "code": "nl",
      "lang": "Dutch",
      "sense": "become less rigid, yield",
      "word": "meegeven"
    },
    {
      "code": "nl",
      "lang": "Dutch",
      "sense": "become less rigid, yield",
      "word": "ontspannen"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "become less rigid, yield",
      "word": "pehmetä"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "become less rigid, yield",
      "word": "taipua"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "become less rigid, yield",
      "word": "nachgeben"
    },
    {
      "code": "mi",
      "lang": "Maori",
      "sense": "become less rigid, yield",
      "word": "whakangāwari"
    },
    {
      "code": "mi",
      "lang": "Maori",
      "sense": "become less rigid, yield",
      "word": "ngawhere"
    },
    {
      "code": "mi",
      "lang": "Maori",
      "sense": "become less rigid, yield",
      "word": "hauraro"
    }
  ],
  "word": "relent"
}

{
  "categories": [
    "English 2-syllable words",
    "English adjectives",
    "English countable nouns",
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English lemmas",
    "English nouns",
    "English terms derived from Anglo-Norman",
    "English terms derived from Latin",
    "English terms derived from Middle English",
    "English terms inherited from Middle English",
    "English terms with IPA pronunciation",
    "English terms with audio links",
    "English verbs",
    "Requests for review of Dutch translations",
    "Rhymes:English/ɛnt",
    "Rhymes:English/ɛnt/2 syllables"
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "enm",
        "3": "relenten"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle English relenten",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "xno",
        "3": "relentir"
      },
      "expansion": "Anglo-Norman relentir",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "la",
        "3": "re-"
      },
      "expansion": "Latin re-",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "la",
        "2": "lentare",
        "3": "",
        "4": "to bend"
      },
      "expansion": "lentare (“to bend”)",
      "name": "m"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "la",
        "2": "lentus",
        "3": "",
        "4": "soft, pliant, slow"
      },
      "expansion": "lentus (“soft, pliant, slow”)",
      "name": "m"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Middle English relenten, from Anglo-Norman relentir, from Latin re- + lentare (“to bend”), from lentus (“soft, pliant, slow”). Earliest recording dates to 1526.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "more relent",
      "tags": [
        "comparative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "most relent",
      "tags": [
        "superlative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "relent (comparative more relent, superlative most relent)",
      "name": "en-adj"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "adj",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with obsolete senses"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "softhearted; yielding"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "softhearted",
          "softhearted"
        ],
        [
          "yielding",
          "yielding"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(obsolete) softhearted; yielding"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "obsolete"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ɹɪˈlɛnt/"
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-ɛnt"
    },
    {
      "audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Mélange a trois-relent.wav",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/1/1f/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-M%C3%A9lange_a_trois-relent.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-M%C3%A9lange_a_trois-relent.wav.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/1/1f/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-M%C3%A9lange_a_trois-relent.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-M%C3%A9lange_a_trois-relent.wav.ogg",
      "tags": [
        "UK"
      ],
      "text": "Audio (UK)"
    }
  ],
  "word": "relent"
}

This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2024-04-26 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2024-04-21 using wiktextract (93a6c53 and 21a9316). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.