SLACKEN • FREE TRANSLATOR.ORG • 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

... mile flew by. The unwilling travellers, depressed beyond description, had given up all hope of leaving the car until it reached the point intended by the wily plotters. To their amazement, however, the speed began to slacken perceptibly after they had left the city ten or twelve miles behind. Truxton was leaning against the side of the door, gloomily surveying the bright, green landscape. For some time Loraine had been steadying herself by clinging to his arm. They had ...

— Truxton King - A Story of Graustark • George Barr McCutcheon

... fought stoutly all in a heap, and they aided one another handsomely when they saw their comrades in evil case. Pretty soon after they had come together, one of the French was slain, but the rest did not slacken the fight one whit, and they bore themselves as valiantly all as if they had all been Rolands and Olivers. At last they were forced to stop, and they rested by common accord, giving themselves truce until they should be rested, and the first to get up again should recall the others. ...

— A Popular History of France From The Earliest Times - Volume II. of VI. • Francois Pierre Guillaume Guizot

... leaving Liverpool they were, however, awakened early one morning by feeling the express-train suddenly slacken speed. The big cars shook with a violent jarring, and George hurriedly swung himself down from his upper berth. He had some difficulty in getting into his jacket and putting on his boots, but he pushed through the startled passengers and sprang down upon the track before the train quite stopped. ...

— Ranching for Sylvia • Harold Bindloss

... point the grim struggle raged, till nightfall wrought partial cessation. The wearied troopers stretched out their lines so as to protect the packs and the field hospital, threw themselves on the ground, digging rifle-pits with knives and tin pans. Not until nine o'clock did the Indian fire slacken, and then the village became a scene of savage revel, the wild yelling plainly audible to the soldiers above. Through the black night Brant stepped carefully across the recumbent forms of his men, and made his way to the field hospital. In the glare of the single fire ...

— Bob Hampton of Placer • Randall Parrish

... master, looked at the cattle and took his place at Swan's heels. Swan shouted and flung his arms, and the cattle ducked, turned and galloped awkwardly away. Swan's trot did not slacken. His rifle swung rhythmically in his right hand, the muzzle tilted downward. Beads of perspiration on his forehead had merged into tiny rivulets on his cheeks and dripped off his clean-lined, square jaw. ...

— The Quirt • B.M. Bower

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