English edit

Etymology edit

From relieve +‎ -ing.

Pronunciation edit

Verb edit

relieving

  1. present participle and gerund of relieve

Adjective edit

relieving (comparative more relieving, superlative most relieving)

  1. That brings relief. [from 16th c.]
    • 1977, Alistair Horne, A Savage War of Peace, New York: Review Books, published 2006, page 24:
      Like a weary insomniac, France too greeted the relieving dawn chiefly longing for one thing only – repose.

Noun edit

relieving (plural relievings)

  1. (archaic) A change in colour, texture, etc. that relieves monotony.
    • 1850, George Field, Rudiments of the Painters' Art, page 68:
      Purple flowers are commonly contrasted with centres or variegations of bright yellow, as blue flowers are with like relievings of orange []
    • 1855, Arthur's Illustrated Home Magazine, volume 5, page 42:
      The light—divested of its aching brilliancy, lies sweetly upon the floor, checkered as that old man's life, in its quaint, yet charming relievings of shadow.

Anagrams edit