lax
Latinloose, slack; to loosen, release
Variants:laxlaxusleaselish
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About This Root
From Latin laxus (loose, slack, wide) and its verb laxāre (to loosen, slacken, release). The root carries one physical image — a tight thing going slack — into discipline (lax = not strict), rest (relax, relaxation), medicine (laxative = loosens the bowels), and the law/media sense of letting go (release = set free, issue, put out).
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Associated Words · 6
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release
to set free; to make public; something newly issued
relax
To rest and become less tense; to make something less strict
relaxation
Freedom from tension or stress; rest and leisure
lax
Not strict or careful enough; loose in discipline or standards
laxative
A medicine that relieves constipation; having a bowel-stimulating effect
relaxed
Free from tension or anxiety; calm and at ease