relax

verb

Etymology: 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”).

1. To make something loose.

   “to relax a rope or cord”

   “to relax the muscles or sinews”

2. To make something loose.

   “An aperient relaxes the bowels.”

3. To become loose.
4. To relieve (someone or someone's mind) of stress; to enable to rest; to calm down.

   “Amusement relaxes the mind.”

5. To rest and become relieved of stress.

   “I like to relax by listening to music.”

   “I relax in the living room.”

6. To make something less severe or tense.

   “to relax discipline”

   “to relax one's attention or endeavours”

7. To become less severe or tense.

   “Tensions between the two countries have relaxed somewhat in recent weeks.”

8. To make something (such as codes and regulations) more lenient.

   “The statute of mortmain[…] was at several times relaxed by the legislature.”

   “The Court rejected the contention that the doctrine of sovereign immunity should be relaxed as inapplicable to suits for specific relief as distinguished from damage suits, saying: "The Government, as representative of the community as a whole, cannot be stopped in its tracks by any plaintiff who presents a disputed question of property or contract right."”

9. To become more lenient.