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reliefmore about relief

relief


  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Relief  \Re*lief"\  (r?-l?f"),  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. 
 
  He  sees  the  dire  contagion  spread  so  fast  That 
  where  it  seizes,  all  relief  is  vain.  --Dryden. 
 
  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. 
 
  For  this  relief  much  thanks;  'tis  bitter  cold. 
  --Shak. 
 
  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. 
 
  Note:  Relief  is  of  three  kinds,  namely,  {high  relief} 
  ({altorilievo}),  {low  relief},  ({basso-rilievo}),  and 
  {demirelief}  ({mezzo-rilievo}).  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. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  relief 
  n  1:  the  feeling  that  comes  when  something  burdensome  is  removed 
  or  reduced;  "as  he  heard  the  news  he  was  suddenly 
  flooded  with  relief"  [syn:  {alleviation},  {assuagement}] 
  2:  the  condition  of  being  comfortable  or  relieved  (especially 
  after  being  relieved  of  distress);  "he  enjoyed  his  relief 
  from  responsibility";  "getting  it  off  his  conscience  gave 
  him  some  ease"  [syn:  {ease}] 
  3:  (law)  redress  awarded  by  a  court;  "was  the  relief  supposed 
  to  be  protection  from  future  harm  or  compensation  for  past 
  injury?" 
  4:  sculpture  in  which  the  figures  are  raised  above  a 
  surrounding  flat  plane  [syn:  {embossment},  {relievo},  {rilievo}] 
  5:  someone  who  takes  the  place  of  another  (as  when  things  get 
  dangerous  or  difficult);  "the  star  had  a  stand-in  for 
  dangerous  scenes";  "we  need  extra  employees  for  summer 
  fill-ins"  [syn:  {stand-in},  {substitute},  {backup},  {backup 
  man},  {fill-in}] 
  6:  assistance  in  time  of  difficulty;  "the  contributions 
  provided  some  relief  for  the  victims"  [syn:  {succor},  {succour}, 
  {ministration}] 
  7:  a  pause  for  relaxation;  "people  actually  accomplish  more 
  when  they  take  time  for  short  rests"  [syn:  {respite},  {rest}, 
  {rest  period}] 
  8:  a  change  for  the  better  [syn:  {easing},  {moderation}] 
  9:  aid  for  the  aged  or  indigent  or  handicapped;  "he  has  been  on 
  relief  for  many  years" 
  10:  the  act  of  reducing  something  unpleasant  as  pain;  "he  asked 
  the  nurse  for  relief  from  the  constant  pain"  [syn:  {easing}, 
  {alleviation}] 
  11:  shapes  carved  on  a  surface  so  as  to  stand  out  from  the 
  background  [syn:  {relievo}] 
  12:  the  act  of  freeing  a  city  or  town  that  has  been  besieged; 
  "he  asked  for  troops  for  the  relief  of  Atlanta" 




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