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Noah Webster's 1828 American Dictionary

May 27, 2012

Project::Noah

In my view, the Christian religion is the most important and one of the first things in which all children, under a free government ought to be instructed... No truth is more evident to my mind than that the Christian religion must be the basis of any government intended to secure the rights and privileges of a free people.

Preface to 1828 Dictionary

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(6) Words.

relax
relaxable
relaxation
relaxative
relaxed
relaxing

Webster

KJV

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1828 Definition

RELAX', v.t. [L. relaxo; re and laxo, to slacken.]

1. To slacken; to make less tense or rigid; as, to relax a rope or cord; to relax the muscles or sinews; to relax the reins in riding.

2. To loosen; to make less close or firm; as, to relax the joints.

3. To make less severe or rigorous; to remit or abate in strictness; as, to relax a law or rule of justice; to relax a demand.

4. To remit or abate in attention, assiduity or labor; as, to relax study; to relax exertions or efforts.

5. To unbend; to ease; to relieve from close attention; as, conversation relaxes the student or the mind.

6. To relieve from constipation; to loosen; to open; as, medicines relax the bowels.

7. To open; to loose.

8. To make languid.

RELAX', v.i.

1. To abate in severity; to become more mild or less rigorous.

In others she relax'd again, and govern'd with a looser rein.

2. To remit in close attention. It is useful for the student to relax often, and give himself to exercise and amusements.

RELAX', n. Relaxation. [Not used.]

1913 Definition

Relax (relax)
v. t.	(r?-l?ks")
Re*lax"
[imp. ** p. p.* Relaxed (-l?kst")] p. pr. ** vb. n.* Relaxing.] [L. relaxare] pref. re- re- + laxare to loose, to slacken, from laxus loose. See Lax, and cf.

To make lax or loose; to make less close, firm, rigid, tense, or the like; to slacken; to loosen; to open; as, to relax a rope or cord; to relax the muscles or sinews.

Horror . . . all his joints relaxed. Milton.

Nor served it to relax their serried files. Milton.

To make less severe or rigorous; to abate the stringency of; to remit in respect to strenuousness, earnestness, or effort; as, to relax discipline; to relax one's attention or endeavors.

The statute of mortmain was at several times relaxed by the legislature. Swift.

Hence, to relieve from attention or effort; to ease; to recreate; to divert; as, amusement relaxes the mind.

To relieve from constipation; to loosen; to open; as, an aperient relaxes the bowels.

Syn. -- To slacken; loosen; loose; remit; abate; mitigate; ease; unbend; divert.

To become lax, weak, or loose; as, to let one's grasp relax.

His knees relax with toil. Pope.

To abate in severity; to become less rigorous.

In others she relaxed again,
And governed with a looser rein. Prior.

To remit attention or effort; to become less diligent; to unbend; as, to relax in study.

Relaxation.

[Obs.] Feltham.

Relaxed; lax; hence, remiss; careless.

Noah Says...

The religion which has introduced civil liberty is the religion of Christ and His apostles, which enjoins humility, piety, and benevolence; which acknowledges in every person a brother, or a sister, and a citizen with equal rights. This is genuine Christianity, and to this we owe our free Constitutions of Government.

History of the United States :: 1832

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Project::Noah

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The foundation for American Heritage Access [AHA] strives to capture the essence of American culture with an intent to make early American manuscripts accessible to modern society. We believe that the successful future of this country is dependent on honoring and respecting its past. In order to achieve this ideal, several projects will be introduced and executed. The first initiatives of Project::Noah will involve the accessibility of the 1828 American dictionary.

Vision::Reprint

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The first vision, Vision::Reprint, has an intent to make a modern printing of the first dictionary of the American language available to the public for under $25. The first task, Task::Access, involves the digitizing of the original 1828 dictionary. The dictionary is available in microfilm (American Culture Series, Reel 335.6-336.1, Michigan University Microfilms) at many universities. To digitize the microfilm as a batch process requires a special scanner.

Vision::Redesign

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The second vision, Vision::Redesign, has an intent to improve the current online accessibility to the 1828 dictionary. Beyond the Task::XML, other tasks related to this Vision::Redesign include identifying features and functionality for this new website. In addition, plugins will be discussed and created to make the dictionary accessible in other ways: iPhone, Google widget, Firefox Add-on, etc.

Vision::Recapture

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The third vision, Vision::Recapture, has an intent to evoke the importance of Noah Webster in our American Heritage. This vision will manifest itself in a commissioned painting of Noah Webster. The process involved will require the input from concerned Americans. The final commission painting will be derived from initial sketches and digital compositions. Feedback from the community is essential for this vision's success throughout the entire process.

May 27, 2012