Relicted, rē-lik′ted, adj. (law) left bare, as land by the permanent retrocession of water.—n. Relic′tion, land left bare by water: the recession of water.
Relief, rē-lēf′, n. the removal of any evil: release from a post or duty, replacement: one who replaces another: that which relieves or mitigates: aid: assistance to a pauper, as outdoor relief: a certain fine or composition paid by the heir of a tenant at the death of the ancestor: (fine art) the projection of a sculptured design from its ground, as low relief (bas-relief, basso-rilievo), middle relief (mezzo-rilievo), and high relief (alto-rilievo), according as the carved figures project very little, in a moderate degree, or in a very considerable degree from the background: a work of art executed in relief: (her.) the supposed projection of a charge from the surface of a field, indicated by shading on the sinister and lower sides: the condition of land surfaces as regards elevations and depressions—as indicated in a Relief′-map, in which the form of the country is expressed by elevations and depressions of the material used.—ns. Relief′-perspec′tive, the art of applying the principles of perspective to relief in painting and sculpture, in theatrical settings, &c.; Relief′-work, public work to provide employment for the poor in times of distress.—Relief Church, a body who left the Established Church of Scotland on account of the oppressive exercise of patronage, organised in 1761, uniting with the United Secession Church in 1847 to form the United Presbyterian Church. [O. Fr. relef—relever, to raise up—L. re-, again, levāre, to raise.]
Relieve, rē-lēv′, v.t. to remove from that which weighs down or depresses: to lessen: to ease: to help: to release: to support: to mitigate: to raise the siege of: (art) to set off by contrast: (law) to redress.—adj. Reliev′able.—n. Reliev′er, one who, or that which, relieves: (slang) a garment kept for being lent out.—adj. Reliev′ing, serving to relieve: (naut.) a temporary tackle attached to the tiller of a vessel in a storm.—Relieving arch, an arch in a wall to relieve the part below it from a superincumbent weight; Relieving officer, a salaried official who superintends the relief of the poor. [O. Fr. relever, to raise again—L. relevāre—re-, again, levāre, to raise—levis, light.]
Relievo, Rilievo, rē-lyā′vō, n. See Alto-relievo, Bas-relief.
Relight, rē-līt′, v.t. and v.i. to light or take light anew.
Religion, rē-lij′un, n. the recognition of supernatural powers and of the duty lying upon man to yield obedience to these: the performance of our duties of love and obedience towards God: piety: any system of faith and worship: sense of obligation or duty.—ns. Relig′ioner, Relig′ionary.—v.t. Relig′ionise, to imbue with religion.—v.i. to make profession of religion.—ns. Relig′ionism, Religios′ity, religiousness, religious sentimentality; Relig′ionist, one attached to a religion: a bigot.—adj. Relig′ionless, having no religion.—adv. Religiō′so (mus.), in a devotional manner.—Established religion, that form which is officially recognised by the state; Natural religion, that religion which is derived from nature and not revelation; Revealed religion, that which is derived from positive revelation by divinely inspired Scripture, or otherwise. [L. religio, -onis—re-, back, ligāre, to bind.]
Religious, rē-lij′us, adj. pertaining to religion: concerned with or set apart to religion, as a religious society, religious books: pious: godly: (R.C.) bound to a monastic life: strict.—n. one bound by monastic vows.—ns. Religieuse (rė-lē-zhi-ėz′), a nun; Religieux (rė-lē-zhi-ė′), a monk.—adv. Relig′iously.—n. Relig′iousness, the state of being religious.
Relinquish, rē-ling′kwish, v.t. to abandon: to give up: to renounce a claim to.—adj. Relin′quent, relinquishing.—ns. Relin′quisher; Relin′quishment, act of giving up. [O. Fr. relinquir—L. relinquĕre, relictum—re-, away from, linquĕre, to leave.]
Reliquary, rel′i-kwā-ri, n. a small chest or casket for holding relics: (law) one who owes a balance.—Also Reliquaire′. [Fr. reliquaire; cf. Relic.]
Relique, re-lēk′, n. a relic.—n.pl. Reliquiæ (rē-lik′wi-ē), remains, esp. of fossil organisms: (archæology) artifacts, or things made or modified by human art.