relent
To give in or be swayedTo give in or be swayed; to become less hard, harsh, or cruel; to show clemency.
» Tom wouldn't relent.
Meaning
4 senses(intransitive)To give in or be swayed; to become less hard, harsh, or cruel; to show clemency.
He had planned to ground his son for a month, but relented and decided to give him a stern lecture instead.
nachgeben
смягча́тьсяsmjaxčátʹsja
(intransitive)To slacken; to abate.
We waited for the storm to relent before we ventured outside.
He will not relent in his effort to reclaim his victory.
nachlassen
(dated, intransitive)To become less rigid or hard; to soften; to yield, for example by dissolving or melting
nachgeben
(obsolete, transitive)To lessen, make less severe or intense.
- give in, as to influence or pressure
Examples
9 sentencesTom wouldn't relent.
Tom finally relented.
Tom would not relent.
At last they relented.
deSchließlich haben sie nachgegeben.
The heat has relented.
deDie Hitze hat nachgelassen.
Translations
6 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 2
Origin
From Middle English relenten, from Anglo-Norman relentir, from Latin re- + lentare (“to beFrom Middle English relenten, from Anglo-Norman relentir, from Latin re- + lentare (“to bend”), from lentus (“soft, pliant, slow”). Earliest recording dates to 1526. The noun is from the verb.
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Forms
relents, relenting, relented, relentedSynonyms
2 synonymsWord family
2 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle