Emily Dickinson Lexicon

RE-LENT', v.i. [Fr. ralentir; Sp. relenter; It. rallentare; Sp. ablandar; Port. abrandar; the two latter from blando, L. blandus, which unites the L. blandus with lentus. The English is from re and L. lentus, gentle, pliant, slow, the primary sense of which is soft or yielding. The L. lenis is probably of the same family. See Bland.]

1. To soften; to become less rigid or hard; to give. In some houses, sweetmeats will relent more than in others. – Bacon. When op'ning buds salute the welcome day, / And earth relenting feels the genial ray. – Pope. [This sense of the word is admissible in poetry, but is not in common use.]
2. To grow moist; to deliquesce; applied to salts; as, the relenting of the air. – Bacon. Salt of tartar … placed in a cellar, will begin to relent. – Boyle. [This sense is not in use.]
3. To become less intense. [Little used.] – Sidney.
4. To soften in temper; to become more mild and tender; to feel compassion. [This is the usual sense of the word.] Can you behold / My tears, and not once relent? – Shak.