n. [ OE. relef, F. relief, properly, a lifting up, a standing out. See Relieve, and cf. Basrelief, Rilievi. ] 1. The act of relieving, or the state of being relieved; the removal, or partial removal, of any evil, or of anything oppressive or burdensome, by which some ease is obtained; succor; alleviation; comfort; ease; redress. [ 1913 Webster ]

He sees the dire contagion spread so fast,
That, where it seizes, all relief is vain. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Release from a post, or from the performance of duty, by the intervention of others, by discharge, or by relay; as, a relief of a sentry. [ 1913 Webster ]

For this relief much thanks; 'tis bitter cold. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Sculp. & Arch.) The projection of a figure above the ground or plane on which it is formed. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Relief is of three kinds, namely, high relief (altorilievo), low relief, (basso-rilievo), and demirelief (mezzo-rilievo). See these terms in the Vocabulary. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Paint.) The appearance of projection given by shading, shadow, etc., to any figure. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. (Fort.) The height to which works are raised above the bottom of the ditch. Wilhelm. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. (Physical Geog.) The elevations and surface undulations of a country. Guyot. [ 1913 Webster ]

Relief valve, a valve arranged for relieving pressure of steam, gas, or liquid; an escape valve. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Alleviation; mitigation; aid; help; succor; assistance; remedy; redress; indemnification. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Giving relief. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Destitute of relief; also, remediless. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From Rely. ] One who relies. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being relieved; fitted to recieve relief. Sir M. Hale. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Relieved 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To cause to seem to rise; to put in relief; to give prominence or conspicuousness to; to set off by contrast. [ 1913 Webster ]

Her tall figure relieved against the blue sky; seemed almost of supernatural height. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To raise up something in; to introduce a contrast or variety into; to remove the monotony or sameness of. [ 1913 Webster ]

The poet must . . . sometimes relieve the subject with a moral reflection. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Now lend assistance and relieve the poor. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Who hath relieved you? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. To ease of any imposition, burden, wrong, or oppression, by judicial or legislative interposition, as by the removal of a grievance, by indemnification for losses, or the like; to right. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To alleviate; assuage; succor; assist; aid; help; support; substain; ease; mitigate; lighten; diminish; remove; free; remedy; redress; indemnify. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of relieving, or the state of being relieved; relief; release. [ Archaic. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that which, relieves. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Serving or tending to relieve. [ 1913 Webster ]

Relieving arch (Arch.), a discharging arch. See under Discharge, v. t. --
Relieving tackle. (Naut.) (a) A temporary tackle attached to the tiller of a vessel during gales or an action, in case of accident to the tiller ropes. (b) A strong tackle from a wharf to a careened vessel, to prevent her from going over entirely, and to assist in righting her. Totten. Craig. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ It. rilievo. ] See Relief, n., 5. [ 1913 Webster ]