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Webster 1913 Edition

Relent

Re-lent′

(r?-l?nt′)
,
Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Relented
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Relenting
.]
[F.
ralentir
, fr. L. pref.
re-
re- +
ad
to +
lentus
pliant, flexible, slow. See
Lithe
.]
1.
To become less rigid or hard; to yield; to dissolve; to melt; to deliquesce.
[Obs.]
He stirred the coals till
relente
gan
The wax again the fire.
Chaucer.
[Salt of tartar] placed in a cellar will . . . begin to
relent
.
Boyle.
When opening buds salute the welcome day,
And earth,
relenting
, feels the genial ray.
Pope.
2.
To become less severe or intense; to become less hard, harsh, cruel, or the like; to soften in temper; to become more mild and tender; to feel compassion.
Can you . . . behold
My sighs and tears, and will not once
relent
?
Shakespeare

Re-lent′

,
Verb.
T.
1.
To slacken; to abate.
[Obs.]
And oftentimes he would
relent
his pace.
Spenser.
2.
To soften; to dissolve.
[Obs.]
3.
To mollify ; to cause to be less harsh or severe.
[Obs.]

Re-lent′

(r?-l?nt′)
,
Noun.
Stay; stop; delay.
[Obs.]
Nor rested till she came without
relent

Unto the land of Amazons.
Spenser.

Webster 1828 Edition

Relent

RELENT'

,
Verb.
I.
[L. blandus, which unites the L. blandus with lentus. The English is from re and L. lentus, gentle, pliant, slow, the primary sense of which is soft or yielding. The L. lenis is probably of the same family. See Bland.]
1.
To soften; to become less rigid or hard; to give.
In some houses, sweetmeats will relent more than in others.
When op'ning buds salute the welcome day, and earth relenting feels the genial ray.
[This sense of the word is admissible in poetry, but is not in common use.]
2.
To grow moist; to deliquesce; applied to salts; as the relenting of the air.
Salt of tartar - placed in a cellar, will begin to relent.
[This sense is not in use.]
3.
To become less intense. [Little used.]
4.
To soften in temper; to become more mild and tender; to feel compassion. [This is the usual sense of the word.]
Can you behold my tears, and not once relent?

RELENT'

, v.t.
1.
To slacken.
And oftentimes he would relent his pace. Obs.
2.
To soften; to mollify. Obs.

RELENT'

,
pp.
Dissolved. obs.

RELENT'

,
Noun.
Remission; stay. Obs.

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