Remit, v. t. [L. remittere, remissum, to send back, to slacken, relax; pref. re- re- + mittere to send. See Mission, and cf. Remise, Remiss.].

To send back; to give up; to surrender; to resign. [1913 Webster]
"In the case the law remits him to his ancient and more certain right." [1913 Webster]

"In grevious and inhuman crimes, offenders should be remitted to their prince." [1913 Webster]

"The prisoner was remitted to the guard." [1913 Webster]
To restore. [1913 Webster]
"The archbishop was . . . remitted to his liberty." [1913 Webster]
To transmit or send, esp. to a distance, as money in payment of a demand, account, draft, etc.; as, he remitted the amount by mail. [1913 Webster]
To send off or away; hence: (a) To refer or direct (one) for information, guidance, help, etc. “Remitting them . . . to the works of Galen.” Sir T. Elyot. (b) To submit, refer, or leave (something) for judgment or decision. Sir T. Elyot. [1913 Webster]
To relax in intensity; to make less violent; to abate. [1913 Webster]
"So willingly doth God remit his ire." [1913 Webster]
To forgive; to pardon; to remove. [1913 Webster]
"Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them." [1913 Webster]
To refrain from exacting or enforcing; as, to remit the performance of an obligation. Macaulay. [1913 Webster]

Syn. -- To relax; release; abate; relinguish; forgive; pardon; absolve.

Remit, v. i.

To abate in force or in violence; to grow less intense; to become moderated; to abate; to relax; as, a fever remits; the severity of the weather remits. [1913 Webster]
To send money, as in payment. Addison. [1913 Webster]

top

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Remit, v. & n.
--v. (remitted, remitting)
1 tr. cancel or refrain from exacting or inflicting (a debt or punishment etc.).
2 intr. & tr. abate or slacken; cease or cease from partly or entirely.
3 tr. send (money etc.) in payment.
4 tr. cause to be conveyed by post.
5 tr. a (foll. by to) refer (a matter for decision etc.) to some authority. b Law send back (a case) to a lower court.
6 tr. a (often foll. by to) postpone or defer. b (foll. by in, into) send or put back into a previous state.
7 tr. Theol. (usu. of God) pardon (sins etc.).
--n.
1 the terms of reference of a committee etc.
2 an item remitted for consideration.

Derivative

remittable adj. remittal n. remittee n. remitter n.

Etymology

ME f. L remittere remiss- (as RE-, mittere send)

top

THESAURUS

Remit

abate, absolve, acquit, address, air-express, airfreight, airmail, alleviate, amnesty, assign, assuage, attenuate, bate, be conservative, be moderate, be pacifistic, bring back, clear, commend, commit, commit to prison, compensate, condone, confide, consign, decontaminate, decrease, delay, delegate, destigmatize, dilute, diminish, discharge, dismiss, dispatch, dispense from, dispense with, drop a letter, dwindle, ease, ease off, ease up, ebb, embark, enfeoff, entrust, except, exculpate, excuse, exempt, exempt from, exonerate, expedite, export, express, extenuate, extradite, fall off, fee, forgive, forward, free, freight, give absolution, give back, give dispensation from, give in charge, give in trust, grant amnesty to, grant forgiveness, grant immunity, grant remission, guerdon, hold off, hold up, indemnify, infeudate, institutionalize, intermit, justify, keep the peace, keep within bounds, keep within compass, lessen, let down, let go, let off, let up, liquidate, live temperately, loose, loosen, mail, mitigate, nonpros, not make waves, not resist, pardon, pay, pay by installments, pay on, post, postpone, practice nonviolence, practice self-control, prepay, prorogue, purge, put back, put off, quash the charge, recommit, recompense, reduce, relax, release, relegate, relent, remand, remise, remunerate, render, repatriate, restore, return, reward, route, salary, satisfy, save the necessity, send, send away, send back, send forth, send off, send to jail, send up, set free, settle, settle down, shelve, ship, shrive, slack, slack off, slack up, slacken, slake, sober down, spare, stay, strike a balance, subside, take back, take in sail, tender, transmit, trust, unbend, unbrace, unstrain, unstring, vindicate, water down, weaken, whitewash, withdraw the charge

top

ROGET THESAURUS

Remit

Restitution

VB return, restore, give back, carry back, bring back, render, render up, give up, let go, unclutch, disgorge, regorge, regurgitate, recoup, reimburse, compensate, indemnify, remit, rehabilitate, repair, reinvest, revest, reinstate, redeem, recover, take back again, revest, revert.

Cessation

VB cease, discontinue, desist, stay, halt, break off, leave off, hold, stop, pull up, stop short, stick, hang fire, halt, pause, rest, burn out, blow out, melt down, have done with, give over, surcease, shut up shop, give up, hold one's hand, stay one's hand, rest on one's oars repose on one's laurels, come to a stand, come to a standstill, come to a deadlock, come to a full stop, arrive, go out, die away, wear away, wear off, pass away, be at an end, disintegrate, self-destruct, intromit, interrupt, suspend, interpel, intermit, remit, put an end to, put a stop to, put a period to, derail, turn off, switch off, power down, deactivate, disconnect, bring to a stand, bring to a standstill, stop, cut short, arrest, stem the tide, stem the torrent, pull the check-string, pull the plug on, Int, hold!, stop!, enough!, avast!, have done!, a truce to!, soft!, leave off!, tenez!.

Moderation

VB be moderate, keep within bounds, keep within compass, sober down, settle down, keep the peace, remit, relent, take in sail, moderate, soften, mitigate, temper, accoy, attemper, contemper, mollify, lenify, dulcify, dull, take off the edge, blunt, obtund, sheathe, subdue, chasten, sober down, tone down, smooth down, weaken, lessen, check palliate, tranquilize, pacify, assuage, appease, swag, lull, soothe, compose, still, calm, calm down, cool, quiet, hush, quell, sober, pacify, tame, damp, lay, allay, rebate, slacken, smooth, alleviate, rock to sleep, deaden, smooth, throw cold water on, throw a wet blanket over, turn off, slake, curb, tame, smooth over, pour oil on the waves, pour oil on the troubled waters, pour balm into, mattre de l'eau dans son vin, go out like a lamb, roar you as gently as any sucking dove.

Forgiveness

VB forgive, forgive and forget, pardon, condone, think no more of, let bygones be bygones, shake hands, forget an injury, excuse, pass over, overlook, wink at, bear with, allow for, make allowances for, let one down easily, not be too hard upon, pocket the affront, let off, remit, absolve, give absolution, reprieve, acquit, beg pardon, ask pardon, implore pardon, conciliate, propitiate, placate, make up a quarrel, let the wound heal.

Exemption

VB not have, be without, excuse, be exempt, exempt, release, acquit, discharge, quitclaim, remise, remit, free, set at liberty, let off, pass over, spare, excuse, dispense with, give dispensation, license, stretch a point, absolve, exonerate, save the necessity.