Webster's English Dictionary

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relieve

re.lieve \ri-'le-v\ vb [ME releven, fr. MF relever to raise, relieve, fr. L 
   relevare], fr. re- + levare to raise - more at LEVER 1: to free from a 
   burden, evil, or distress : SUCCOR  2: to bring about the removal or 
   alleviation of : MITIGATE  3a: to release from a post, station, or duty  
   3b: to take the place of  4: to set free from an obligation, condition, or 
   restriction  5: to ease of a burden, wrong, or oppression by judicial or 
   legislative in terposition 6: to remove or lessen the monotony  7a: to set 
   off by contrast  7b: to raise in relief  1: to bring or give relief  2: to 
   stand out in relief IGATE, ALLAY mean to make something less grievous. 
   RELIEVE implies a lifting of enough of a burden to make it tolerable; 
   ALLEVIATE implies temporary or partial lessening of pain or distress; 
   LIGHTEN implies reducing a burdensome or depressing weight; ASSUAGE implies 
   softening or sweetening what is harsh or disagreeable; MITIGATE suggests a 
   moderating or countering the effect of something violent or painful; ALLAY 
   implies an effective calming or soothing of fears or alarms - re.liev.er n 
   SYN syn RELIEVE, ALLEVIATE, LIGHTEN, ASSUAGE, MIT