Chapter Reliance to Relish of R by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

3. That which removes or lessens evil, pain, discomfort, uneasiness, etc.; that which gives succor, aid, or comfort; also, the person who relieves from performance of duty by taking the place of another; a relay.

4. (Feudal Law) A fine or composition which the heir of a deceased tenant paid to the lord for the privilege of taking up the estate, which, on strict feudal principles, had lapsed or fallen to the lord on the death of the tenant.

5. (Sculp. & Arch.) The projection of a figure above the ground or plane on which it is formed.

Relief is of three kinds, namely, high relief low relief, and demirelief See these terms in the Vocabulary.

6. (Paint.) The appearance of projection given by shading, shadow, etc., to any figure.

7. (Fort.) The height to which works are raised above the bottom of the ditch. Wilhelm.

8. (Physical Geog.) The elevations and surface undulations of a country. Guyot.

Relief valve, a valve arranged for relieving pressure of steam, gas, or liquid; an escape valve.

Syn. — Alleviation; mitigation; aid; help; succor; assistance; remedy; redress; indemnification.

Reliefful
(Re*lief"ful) a. Giving relief. [Obs.]

Reliefless
(Re*lief"less), a. Destitute of relief; also, remediless.

Relier
(Re*li"er) n. [From Rely.] One who relies.

Relievable
(Re*liev"a*ble) a. Capable of being relieved; fitted to recieve relief. Sir M. Hale.

Relieve
(Re*lieve") v. t. [imp. & p. p. Relieved (-l?vd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Relieving.] [OE. releven, F. relever to raise again, discharge, relieve, fr. L. relevare to lift up, raise, make light, relieve; pref. re- re- + levare to raise, fr. levis light. See Levity, and cf. Relevant, Relief.]

1. To lift up; to raise again, as one who has fallen; to cause to rise. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.

2. To cause to seem to rise; to put in relief; to give prominence or conspicuousness to; to set off by contrast.

Her tall figure relieved against the blue sky; seemed almost of supernatural height.

Sir W. Scott.

3. To raise up something in; to introduce a contrast or variety into; to remove the monotony or sameness of.

The poet must . . . sometimes relieve the subject with a moral reflection.

Addison.

4. To raise or remove, as anything which depresses, weighs down, or crushes; to render less burdensome or afflicting; to alleviate; to abate; to mitigate; to lessen; as, to relieve pain; to relieve the wants of the poor.

5. To free, wholly or partly, from any burden, trial, evil, distress, or the like; to give ease, comfort, or consolation to; to give aid, help, or succor to; to support, strengthen, or deliver; as, to relieve a besieged town.

Now lend assistance and relieve the poor.

Dryden.

6. To release from a post, station, or duty; to put another in place of, or to take the place of, in the bearing of any burden, or discharge of any duty.

Who hath relieved you?

Shak.