relent

Meanings

1. A stay; a stop; a delay.
2. A relenting.

1. To give in or be swayed; to become less hard, harsh, or cruel; to show clemency.
2. To slacken; to abate.
3. To lessen, make less severe or intense.
4. To become less rigid or hard; to soften; to yield, for example by dissolving or melting

1. Softhearted; yielding.

Etymology

From Middle English relenten, from Anglo-Norman relentir, from Latin re- + lentare (“to bend”), from lentus (“soft, pliant, slow”). Earliest recording dates to 1526.