relieve

relieve [ri lēv′]

vt.

relieved, relieving [ME releven < OFr relever < L relevare, to lift up again < re-, again + levare, to raise: see LEVER]

1.

a) to ease, lighten, or reduce (pain, anxiety, etc.)

b) to free (a person) from pain, discomfort, anxiety, etc.

c) to restore (a part of the body, the mind, etc.) to well-being

2.

a) to lighten the pressure, stress, weight, etc. on (something)

b) to lighten (pressure, stress, etc.)

3.

a) to give aid or assistance to [to relieve the poor]

b) to bring or send help to [to relieve a besieged city]

4.

a) to set free from a burden, obligation, grievance, etc.

b) to remove (a burden, etc.)

c) to set free from duty or work by replacing with oneself or another [to relieve a nurse ]

☆ d) Baseball to serve as a relief pitcher for (another pitcher)

5. to make less tedious, monotonous, etc. by being or providing a pleasing change

6. to set off by contrast; make distinct or prominent

vi.

☆ Baseball to serve as a relief pitcher

SYN.- COMFORT

——————

relieve oneself

to urinate or defecate

relievable

adj.

reliever

n.

SYN.- RELIEVE implies the reduction of misery, discomfort, or tediousness sufficiently to make it bearable [they played a game to relieve the monotony of the trip ]; ALLEVIATE implies temporary relief, suggesting that the source of the misery remains unaffected [drugs to alleviate the pain ]; LIGHTEN¹ implies a cheering or gladdening as by reducing the weight of oppression or depression [nothing can lighten the burden of our grief ]; ASSUAGE suggests a softening or pacifying influence in lessening pain, calming passion, etc. [her kind words assuaged his resentment ]; MITIGATE implies a moderating or making milder of that which is likely to cause pain [to mitigate a punishment ]; ALLAY suggests an effective, although temporary or incomplete, calming or quieting [we've allayed their suspicions ]