■ verb
1》 make or become less tense or anxious.
↘cause (a limb or muscle) to become less rigid.
2》 rest from work or engage in a recreational activity.
3》 make (a rule or restriction) less strict.
Derivatives
~ed adjective
~edly adverb
~edness noun
~er noun
Origin
ME: from L. ~are , from re- (expressing intensive force) + laxus 'lax, loose'.