Rel"e*vant*ly, adv. In a relevant manner.
Rel`e*va"tion (-v?"sh?n), n. [L. relevatio, fr. relevare. See Relieve.]
A raising or lifting up. [Obs.]
Re*li`a*bil"i*ty (r?-l?`?-b?l"?-t?), n. The state or quality of being
reliable; reliableness.
Re*li"a*ble (r?-l?"?-b'l), a. Suitable or fit to be relied on; worthy
of dependance or reliance; trustworthy. "A reliable witness to the
truth of the miracles." A. Norton.
The best means, and most reliable pledge, of a higher object.
Coleridge.
According to General Livingston's humorous account, his own village
of Elizabethtown was not much more reliable, being peopled in those
agitated times by "unknown, unrecommended strangers, guilty-looking
Tories, and very knavish Whigs."
W. Irving.
Some authors take exception to this word, maintaining that it is
unnecessary, and irregular in formation. It is, however, sanctioned by
the practice of many careful writers as a most convenient substitute
for the phrase to be relied upon, and a useful synonym for trustworthy,
which is by preference applied to persons, as reliable is to things,
such as an account, statement, or the like. The objection that
adjectives derived from neuter verbs do not admit of a passive sense is
met by the citation of laughable, worthy of being laughed at, from the
neuter verb to laugh; available, fit or able to be availed of, from the
neuter verb to avail; dispensable, capable of being dispensed with,
from the neuter verb to dispense. Other examples might be added.
-- Re*li"a*ble*ness, n. -- Re*li"a*bly, adv.
Re*li"ance (-ans), n. [From Rely.] 1. The act of relying, or the
condition or quality of being reliant; dependence; confidence; trust;
repose of mind upon what is deemed sufficient support or authority.
In reliance on promises which proved to be of very little value.
Macaulay.
2. Anything on which to rely; dependence; ground of trust; as, the boat
was a poor reliance. Richardson.
Re*li"ant (-ant), a. Having, or characterized by, reliance; confident;
trusting.
Rel"ic (r?l"?k), n. [F. relique, from L. reliquiae, pl., akin to
relinquere to leave behind. See Relinquish.] [Formerly written also
relique.] 1. That which remains; that which is left after loss or
decay; a remaining portion; a remnant. Chaucer. Wyclif.
The relics of lost innocence.
Kebe.
The fragments, scraps, the bits and greasy relics.
Shak.
2. The body from which the soul has departed; a corpse; especially, the
body, or some part of the body, of a deceased saint or martyr; --
usually in the plural when referring to the whole body.
There are very few treasuries of relics in Italy that have not a
tooth or a bone of this saint.
Addison.
Thy relics, Rowe, to this fair urn we trust, And sacred place by
Dryden's awful dust.
Pope.
3. Hence, a memorial; anything preserved in remembrance; as, relics of
youthful days or friendships.
The pearls were spilt; Some lost, some stolen, some as relics kept.
Tennyson.