A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1400-1681
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Relaxatio(u)n(e, n. [e.m.E. relaxacyon (1526), L. relaxātiōn-, f. relaxāre to unloose. Cf. F. relaxation (1314 in Larousse).] The action of relaxing, in the senses of Relax v.; an instance of this. a. The freeing of lands from a legal restriction placed upon their use or enjoyment. b. The suspension of, or setting free from (fra), a legal process or the penalties, etc. prescribed thereby. Also, a (letter of) relaxatioune. c. The action of setting free from (a place of) confinement or punishment. d. A release from (one's) daily tasks or ordinary routine.a. 1489 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 549.
& immediatly followand the relaxatioun & redempcioun of the said landis 1520 Montgomery Mem. II 91.
For the relaxatione and redemptione of my lands 1535 Selkirk B. Ct. MS fol. 192 (18 April.).
Jhone oblisses hyme … to … brouk the forsaid rigis ane ȝeir efter the relaxation without ony impediement 1681 Stair Inst. iv lii §27.
The third kind of suspension … contains relaxation, that is a loosing from the denunciation, whereby the moveables which the suspender acquires after relaxation fall not under his escheat as do his other moveables. … This … may be granted to persons incarcerated, without a charge to set them at libertyb. (1) 1543 Reg. Morton II 289.
The said erle … cuth nawise obtene relaxatioun of the said command and relegatioun 1543 Ib. 292.
Our … soverane lord gaif … to the said erle ane discharge and relaxatioun of his said ward be his lettres 1546–7 Reg. Privy C. I 59.
His grace sall newther giff respect nor remissioun, supersedere nor relaxatioun, to na maner of persoun … that sal happin to committ slauchter 1555 Acts II 492/2.
And attour all alienatioun contract [etc.] … to be … of nane auale in the self … during the tyme of his relaxatioun 1564 Reg. Privy C. I 304.
It sould be rememberit befoir ony relaxatioun wer grantit to Johnne Gordoun … callit and at the horne … that first the Thesaurare be satisfeit 1593 Acts (1597) ii 144b.
The Lordes of Councell and session sall na-waies graunt onie suspension or relaxation fra the horne 1593 Lett. Jas. VI to Eliz. 88.
And althocht thair relaxation gaue full libertie to euerie man to intercommun and ressett thaime, yett [etc.] 14.. Acts (1597) Table. 1622-6 Bisset I 266/31.
That all pairties raisand suspensionis with relaxatioun fra the horne [etc.] 1681 Stair Inst. iii iii §14.
Horning is taken off … by relaxation which requireth the same solemnities of publication and registration as hornings doth(2) a1633 Hope Major Pract. I 278.
And also produced letters of relaxation —1601 Criminal Trials II 374.
The relaxatioune produceit, quhilk is minut, produceit and registrate in the Sheref bukes of Roxburgh 1621 Acts IV 622/1.
For inhibitiounes and relaxatiounes how long soeuir they be, xx s.c. a1578 Pitsc. I 178 h. of ch.
The chancellaris ansuer … concerning the kingis relaxatioun a1578 Ib. 310/7.
The relaxatioun of the saullis … quhilk is contenitt in the panis of purgatoried. 1589 Edinb. B. Rec. V 2.
Anent the yeirlie privileges and relaxatioun granted to the scholers 1607 Misc. Abbotsf. C. 74.
That I haue had na relaxatioun libertie and tyme for the studdie of letteris
