relieve

re•lieve

[[t]rɪˈliv[/t]] v. -lieved, -liev•ing

1) to ease or alleviate (pain, distress, anxiety, need, etc.); mitigate; allay

2) to free from anxiety, fear, pain, etc

3) to free from need or poverty

4) to bring effective aid to (a besieged town, military position, etc.)

5) to ease (a person) of a burden, wrong, or oppression

6) to reduce (a pressure, load, weight, etc., on a device or object under stress)

7) to make less tedious, unpleasant, or monotonous:

Curtains relieved the drabness of the room[/ex]

8) to bring into relief or prominence; heighten the effect of

9) to release (a person on duty) by coming as or providing a substitute or replacement

10) spo to replace (a baseball pitcher)

11) to release from an obligation or position:

to be relieved of one's post[/ex]

12) inf inf to take something from; rob (usu. fol. by of):

The thief relieved me of my wallet[/ex]

13) spo to act as a relief pitcher

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- relieve oneself

Etymology: 1300–50; ME releven < MF relever to raise < L relevāre to reduce the load of, lighten =re- re-+levāre to raise, der. of levis light in weight re•liev′a•ble, adj. re•liev′ed•ly, adv. re•liev′er, n.