relent etymology

Etymology

• Late 14th century: from French relenquir, from re- ‘again, back’ + lenquir ‘to leave, let go’, from Latin linquere ‘to leave, abandon’

Meaning and Origin

The verb relent originally meant "to relax one's efforts or severity; to become less harsh or strict." It was first used in the late 14th century, derived from the French verb relenquir, which itself comes from the Latin verb linquere.

The word linquere means "to leave" or "to abandon." The prefix re- means "again" or "back." Thus, the word relent literally means "to leave behind" or "to let go."

Over time, the meaning of relent has shifted slightly. It now more commonly means "to become less severe or harsh" or "to cease to oppose or resist."

relent relate terms

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• relent

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• plague

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