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I.

1. trans. To withdraw, recall, revoke, cancel (a sentence, punishment, condition, etc.). Obs.

1297 R. GLOUC. (Rolls) 10297

ou hast nou..

e pope bisout,

at he relesi

e entredit. 1387 TREVISA Higden (Rolls) V. 371 The kyng hadde relesed [v.r. relesched; L. relaxasset] and wi

cleped a wel hard avow

at he hadde i-made. Ibid. VIII. 233 If that he made eny sentence, the legate..scholde have releisched hit. 1422 tr. Secreta Secret. 128 Al the Cite..to the Sone relessid the Payne [= penalty] of the eighyn. c1530 Crt. of Love 1014 The sixteenth statut doth me grete grevaunce, But ye must that relesse or modifie. 1568 GRAFTON Chron. II. 931 The lyfe was geuen, and the punishment of death releaused.

2. To relieve, alleviate, or remove (labour, pain, etc.). Obs.

a1340 HAMPOLE Psalter cxviii. [cxix.] 54 Relesand my trauayls and my noy in

is wrechid life. c1386 CHAUCER Man of Law's T. 971, I prey yow al my labour to relesse. 1423 JAS. I Kingis Q. clxxxiv, Beseching vnto fair venus abufe..His paine relesch, and sone to stand In grace. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 99 He begged but one droppe of water, to release his turmentes. 1551 TURNER Herbal I. Bvijb, The iuice that is pressed out, is better & releseth the paine soner. 1597 DANIEL Civ. Wars VI. lxvi, Would God his blood, and mine had well releast The dangers that his pride is like to breed.

3. To remit; to grant remission or discharge of or for (something); a. a vow or task. Obs.

c1315 SHOREHAM I. 1790 Relessed Schel hym nau

t be religioun,

a

he be nau

t professed. c1386 CHAUCER Clerk's T. 97 But ther as ye han profred me..To chese me a wyf, I yow relesse That choys, and prey you of that profre cesse.

c. a debt, tax, tribute, etc. Now only Law.

c1386 CHAUCER Frankl. T. 885 Sire, I releesse thee thy thousand pound,..I wol nat take a peny of thee. 1387 TREVISA Higden (Rolls) IV. 107 He..relesede..half

e tribute

at was woned to be payde. c1400 tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh. 57 And also he vsys

at tyme..for to reles party of rentys. 1457 Cal. Anc. Rec. Dublin (1889) I. 295 That he shall have releshyed to hym during hys live the chef rent of an orchard. c1550 Disc. Common Weal Eng. (1893) 27b, If..youe should release youre rent..to the old rate. 1601 R. JOHNSON Kingd. & Commw. (1603) 115 A tribute which Leo the 9. did release to the church of Bamburg.

4. a. To give up, resign, relinquish, surrender (esp. a right or claim, in favour of another person).

1390 GOWER Conf. I. 257 In what wise he may relesse His hihe astat, that wot he noght. Ibid. 271 Echon..preiden for this lordes hele, Which hath relessed the querele. c1400 Destr. Troy 13626, I releshe

e my ryght with a rank will, And graunt

e

e gouernanse of

is grete yle. 1470-85 MALORY Arthur X. xxix. 461 Yf that this knyght slee hym, I fully releece my clayme for euer. a1533 LD. BERNERS Huon liii. 180 As for the wager that I sholde wyn therby, I am content to relese it quyte. a1548 HALL Chron., Hen. VIII 172 Whiche of you..would concent that the kyng shoulde release his Seignioritie or superioritie of Wales, Irelande or Cornewall? 1596 SPENSER F.Q. IV. ii. 19 Bidding them fight for honour of their love, And rather die then Ladies cause release.

b. spec. To surrender, make over, transfer (land or territory) to another. Chiefly Law.

c1400 Rom. Rose 6999, I quethe hym quyte, and hym relesse Of Egipt al the wildirnesse. 1475 Bk. Noblesse (Roxb.) 22 The said Lowes relesid the seide dukedom to the said Richarde. 1593 SHAKES. 2 Hen. VI, I. i. 51 It is agreed..That the Dutchy of Aniou..shall be released and deliuered to the King her father.

II. 6. a. To set or make free, to liberate, deliver, of (now somewhat rare) or from pain, bondage, obligation, etc. Also without const.

(a) 13.. Coer de L. 3034 Ther was no man..myghte do his sorwe sese, Ne off his paynes hym relese. 1340 HAMPOLE Pr. Consc. 3813 For pardon here..May

am relese of

e dede of payn. 1456 SIR G. HAYE Law Arms (S.T.S.) 227 He is presumyt ay to be servand quhill he be releschit of his service. c1470 HENRY Wallace II. 361 Quhen Wallace was ralesched off his payne. 1509 HAWES Past. Pleas. XXIX. (Percy Soc.) 138 Ye shall release Me first of my wo and great distresse. 1560 J. DAUS tr. Sleidane's Comm. 205 He shall release the people of theyre othe.