relieve

Reading level: medium

Estimated CEFR level: B1 — Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. verb provide physical relief, as from pain
  2. verb free someone temporarily from his or her obligations
  3. verb grant relief or an exemption from a rule or requirement to

Etymology

From Late Middle English releven, from Old French relever, specifically from the conjugated forms such as (jeo) relieve (“I lift up”), and its source, Latin relevo (“to lift up, lighten, relieve, alleviate”), combined form of re- (“back”) + levo (“to lift”). Doublet of relevate. Compare levant, levity, etc.

In classic literature

Synonyms

alleviate, palliate, assuage

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