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Accede vs Relent - What's the difference?

accede | relent |

As verbs the difference between accede and relent

is that accede is while relent is to become less severe or intense; to become less hard, harsh, or cruel; to soften in temper; to become more mild and tender; to feel compassion.

As a noun relent is

stay; stop; delay.

accede

English

Verb

(acced)
  • (archaic) To approach; to arrive, to come forward.
  • To agree or assent to a proposal or a view; to give way.
  • To come to an office, state or dignity; to attain, assume (a position).
  • * 2002 , , The Great Nation , Penguin 2003, p. 32:
    • Maintenon had been governess to the children in the late 1670s before acceding to the king's favours.
  • To become a party to an agreement or a treaty.

    • Usage notes

    Use with the word to afterwards ie. accede to .

    Synonyms

    * agree, acquiesce, assent, comply, concur, consent, concede

    Derived terms

    * accedence

    References

    * ----

    relent

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Stay; stop; delay.

    • Derived terms

    * relentless

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To become less severe or intense; to become less hard, harsh, or cruel; to soften in temper; to become more mild and tender; to feel compassion.
    • He relented of his plan to murder his opponent, and decided just to teach him a lesson instead.
    I did, I suppose, hope that she might finally relent a little and make some conciliatory response or other. (from "The Remains of the Day"? by Kazuo Ishiguro)
  • * Shakespeare
    • Can you behold / My sighs and tears, and will not once relent ?
  • To slacken; to abate.
    • We waited for the storm to relent before we ventured outside.
    He will not relent in his effort to reclaim his victory.
  • (obsolete) To lessen, make less severe or fast.
  • * 1590 , Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene , III.iv:
    • But nothing might relent her hastie flight; / So deepe the deadly feare of that foule swaine / Was earst impressed in her gentle spright [...].
  • (dated) To become less rigid or hard; to soften; to yield; to dissolve; to melt; to deliquesce.
  • * Boyle
    • [Salt of tartar] placed in a cellar will begin to relent .
  • * Alexander Pope
    • When opening buds salute the welcome day, / And earth, relenting , feels the genial ray.