slackening : Dictionary / Wörterbuch (BEOLINGUS, TU Chemnitz)

English Dictionary: slackening	by the DICT Development Group
2 results for slackening
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
slackening n an occurrence of control or strength weakening; "the relaxation of requirements"; "the loosening of his grip"; "the slackening of the wind" Synonym(s): relaxation, loosening, slackening
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Slack \Slack\, Slacken \Slack"en\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Slacked}, {Slackened}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Slacking}, {Slackening}.] [See {Slack}, a.] 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. --Milton. 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. --Chaucer. They will not of that firste purpose slack. --Chaucer.