SLACKEN Copy link • SLACKENTransitively, To make slack, laxare (general term, to lessen the tension of anything): relaxare (to relax, to unbend; e.g., of a bow or its string †): remittere (to lessen the tightness, to let go to some degree; e.g., the reins, a bridle; then of the string of a bow; also of the latter, arcum retendere †): mollire: emollire (PROP.; e.g., of the thong of a spear, jaculi amentum emollire; then also IMPROP., to slacken anybody’s energies, to weaken or effeminate) [Vid :, also,” to make SLACK”]. To loosen, solvere: resolvere: relaxare (to relax, to make rather loose): expedire (to set free anything that was entangled). To mitigate, mitigare: mitiorem facere: mollire: molliorem facere (to cause to become more yielding, to cause to give way): levare (to alleviate, to cause some relief). To weaken [Vid: DEBILITATE]. To slacken the energies of the mind, frangere vires animi; debilitare animum: to slacken both the bodily and mental energies, corporis et mentis nervos frangere: to slacken anybody’s mental energies, languorem afferre alicui. To dissolve lime, macerare (i. e., to soak). The slackening of lime, maceratio calcis. Intransitively, To be freed from tension, laxari: relaxari: remitti. [SYN. above.] To languish, to become weak, languescere: elanguescere: relanguescere. To become rather loose, flaccessere (of sails; then, IMPROP., of a speech). To abate, remittere: remitti (e.g., rain, fever, pain, etc.): minui: minuere (to lessen, to be lessened; e.g., of the violence of waters, etc.; Vid: Herzog, Caes., B.G., on the intransitive minuere): defervescere (to subside; e.g., passions, anger, etc.): residere (to cool, to abate, to go off; e.g., anger, impetuosity, etc.). To slacken for a time, intermittere (e.g., of a flame, of rain, etc.): anybody’s activity is slackening, languescit industrial: the zeal of anybody for anything slackens, languidiore studio est in aliqua re: to allow one’s zeal to slacken, studium alicujus rei deponere; friendship, amicitiam sensim dissuere (Cic., Lael., 21, 76): you never slacken in your work, nullum tempus remittis: to slacken for a while, aliquid intermittere.