SLACKEN • E-FREE TRANSLATION.COM • Definition of Slacken

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/slˈækən/ Listen

verb

Slacken, Slack v. t.

1.

To render slack; to make less tense or firm; as, to slack a rope; to slacken a bandage.

2.

To neglect; to be remiss in. (Obs.) "Slack not the pressage."

3.

To deprive of cohesion by combining chemically with water; to slake; as, to slack lime.

4.

To cause to become less eager; to repress; to make slow or less rapid; to retard; as, to slacken pursuit; to slacken industry. "Rancor for to slack." "I should be grieved, young prince, to think my presence Unbent your thoughts, and slackened 'em to arms." "In this business of growing rich, poor men should slack their pace." "With such delay Well plased, they slack their course."

5.

To cause to become less intense; to mitigate; to abate; to ease. "To respite, or deceive, or slack thy pain Of this ill mansion."

Air-slacked lime, lime slacked by exposure to the air, in consequence of the absorption of carton dioxide and water, by which it is converted into carbonate of lime and hydrate of lime.

Slacken, Slack v. i. (past & past part. slacked, slackened; pres. part. slacking, slackening)

1.

To become slack; to be made less tense, firm, or rigid; to decrease in tension; as, a wet cord slackens in dry weather.

2.

To be remiss or backward; to be negligent.

3.

To lose cohesion or solidity by a chemical combination with water; to slake; as, lime slacks.

4.

To abate; to become less violent. "Whence these raging fires Will slacken, if his breath stir not their flames."

5.

To lose rapidity; to become more slow; as, a current of water slackens.

6.

To languish; to fail; to flag.

7.

To end; to cease; to desist; to slake. (Obs.) "That through your death your lineage should slack." "They will not of that firste purpose slack."

noun

Slacken n. (Written also slakin) (Metal.) A spongy, semivitrifled substance which miners or smelters mix with the ores of metals to prevent their fusion.

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Etymology of 'Slacken'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Slacken" Quotes from Famous Books

... having incurred no very serious injury. The Fury was shifted a few yards into the best place that could be found, and the wind again blowing strong from the northward, the ice remained close about us. A shift of wind to the southward in the afternoon at length began gradually to slacken it, but it was not till six A.M. on the 1st of August that there appeared a prospect of making any progress. There was, at this time, a great deal of water to the southward, but between us and the channel there lay one narrow and not very close ...

— Journal of the Third Voyage for the Discovery of a North-West Passage • William Edward Parry

... helm a little, my man," Wilkinson said. "That will do, just enough to keep the wind on the starboard quarter. Keep her at that, keep her at that." Edgar had the sail ready to hoist. "Slacken the tack a little. Now, half a dozen of you tail on here, and get ready to haul it down as soon as the sail is up to its full height and the halliards secured. Now, lads, tail on to ...

— At Aboukir and Acre - A Story of Napoleon's Invasion of Egypt • George Alfred Henty

... slanting over by the force of the wind aloft, appeared hardly capable of supporting the great fabrics raised upon them. The California was to windward of us, and had every advantage; yet, while the breeze was stiff, we held our own. As soon as it began to slacken, she ranged a little ahead, and the order was given to loose the royals. In an instant the gaskets were off and the bunt dropped. "Sheet home the fore royal!" "Weather sheets home!"—"Lee sheets home!"—"Hoist away, sir!" is bawled from aloft. "Overhaul your clew-lines!" ...

— Library of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern -- Volume 11 • Various

... chattering passengers had pushed out into the lake and accomplished a third of the voyage, they were met by a skiff containing the faithful chaperons Mrs. Simpkins and Mr. Meigs. They hailed, but Mr. King, who was rowing his boat, did not slacken speed. "Are you much tired, Miss Benson?" shouted Mr. Meigs. King didn't like this assumption of protection. "I've brought you ...

— Baddeck and That Sort of Thing • Charles Dudley Warner

... my nails were almost stuck into the palms of my clenched hands, and that my teeth were set fast; on making this discovery, I relaxed both my pace, fists, and jaws, but I could not so soon cause the regrets rushing rapidly through my mind to slacken their tide. Why did I make myself a tradesman? Why did I enter Hunsden's house this evening? Why, at dawn to-morrow, must I repair to Crimsworth's mill? All that night did I ask myself these questions, and all that ...

— The Professor • (AKA Charlotte Bronte) Currer Bell

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