/ rɪˈlaɪ; NAmE / verb
( re·lies , rely·ing , re·lied , re·lied )
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PHRASAL VERBS
- rely on / upon sb/sth
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WORD FAMILY
rely verb
reliable adjective (≠ unreliable )
reliability noun (≠ unreliability )
reliance noun
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French relier bind together, from Latin religare , from re- (expressing intensive force) + ligare bind. The original sense was gather together , later turn to, associate with , which led to the sense depend upon with confidence .