English
relent
Relent comes from Anglo-Norman relentir, from Latin lentare ‘to bend’, and ultimately from lentus ‘soft, pliant, slow’.
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CElentus‘soft, pliant, slow’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CElentare‘to bend’
- Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400relentir
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500relenten‘to become more fluidous or dissolved’
- Englishearliest quotation 1590relent
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CElentus‘soft, pliant, slow’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CElentare‘to bend’
- Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400relentir
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500relenten‘to become more fluidous or dissolved’
- Englishearliest quotation 1590relent
Earliest quotation: 1590, Edmund Spenser, Book III, Canto IV: “But nothing might relent her hastie flight; / So…”
The story
Earliest recording dates to 1526.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *lentos ‘soft, smooth, pliant’
through Latin lentus ‘soft, pliant, slow’
Today it means
verb To give in or be swayed; to become less hard, harsh, or cruel; to show clemency.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Latin lentus / relent