Slack

Slack Slack, Slacken Slack"en, v. t. 1. To render slack; to make less tense or firm; as, to slack a rope; to slacken a bandage. --Wycklif (Acts xxvii. 40) [1913 Webster]

2. To neglect; to be remiss in. [Obs.] --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Slack not the pressage. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

3. To deprive of cohesion by combining chemically with water; to slake; as, to slack lime. [1913 Webster]

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.'' --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

I should be grieved, young prince, to think my presence Unbent your thoughts, and slackened 'em to arms. --Addison. [1913 Webster]

In this business of growing rich, poor men should slack their pace. --South. [1913 Webster]

With such delay Well plased, they slack their course. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

5. To cause to become less intense; to mitigate; to abate; to ease. [1913 Webster]

To respite, or deceive, or slack thy pain Of this ill mansion. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

{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. [1913 Webster]