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Added 8 October 2026

relax

/ɹɪˈlæks/ verb

In Latin: relaxō Wiktionary

verb Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about relax at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Become less tense, rest, or take one's ease.
He relaxed in the hot tub
Make less taut.
relax the tension on the rope
Become loose or looser or less tight.
The noose loosened

Origin

From Middle English relaxen, from Old French relaxer, from Latin relaxāre (“relax, loosen, open”), from re- (“back”) + laxāre (“loosen”), from laxus (“loose, free”). By surface analysis, re- + lax (“open, free, loose”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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