-reli-

a. Suitable or fit to be relied on; worthy of dependance or reliance; trustworthy. “A reliable witness to the truth of the miracles.” A. Norton. [ 1913 Webster ]

The best means, and most reliable pledge, of a higher object. Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

According to General Livingston's humorous account, his own village of Elizabethtown was not much more reliable, being peopled in those agitated times by “unknown, unrecommended strangers, guilty-looking Tories, and very knavish Whigs.” W. Irving. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Some authors take exception to this word, maintaining that it is unnecessary, and irregular in formation. It is, however, sanctioned by the practice of many careful writers as a most convenient substitute for the phrase to be relied upon, and a useful synonym for trustworthy, which is by preference applied to persons, as reliable is to things, such as an account, statement, or the like. The objection that adjectives derived from neuter verbs do not admit of a passive sense is met by the citation of laughable, worthy of being laughed at, from the neuter verb to laugh; available, fit or able to be availed of, from the neuter verb to avail; dispensable, capable of being dispensed with, from the neuter verb to dispense. Other examples might be added. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Re*li"a*ble*ness, n. -- Re*li"a*bly, adv. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From Rely. ] 1. The act of relying, or the condition or quality of being reliant; dependence; confidence; trust; repose of mind upon what is deemed sufficient support or authority. [ 1913 Webster ]

In reliance on promises which proved to be of very little value. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Anything on which to rely; dependence; ground of trust; as, the boat was a poor reliance. Richardson. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having, or characterized by, reliance; confident; trusting. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. relique, from L. reliquiae, pl., akin to relinquere to leave behind. See Relinquish. ] [ Formerly written also relique. ] 1. That which remains; that which is left after loss or decay; a remaining portion; a remnant. Chaucer. Wyclif. [ 1913 Webster ]

The relics of lost innocence. Kebe. [ 1913 Webster ]

The fragments, scraps, the bits and greasy relics. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The body from which the soul has departed; a corpse; especially, the body, or some part of the body, of a deceased saint or martyr; -- usually in the plural when referring to the whole body. [ 1913 Webster ]

There are very few treasuries of relics in Italy that have not a tooth or a bone of this saint. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thy relics, Rowe, to this fair urn we trust,
And sacred place by Dryden's awful dust. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Hence, a memorial; anything preserved in remembrance; as, relics of youthful days or friendships. [ 1913 Webster ]

The pearls were spilt;
Some lost, some stolen, some as relics kept. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In the manner of relics. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. relicta, fr. of relictus, p. p. of relinquere to leave behind. See Relinquish. ] A woman whose husband is dead; a widow. [ 1913 Webster ]

Eli dying without issue, Jacob was obliged by law to marry his relict, and so to raise up seed to his brother Eli. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. relictus, p. p. ] (Law) Left uncovered, as land by recession of water. Bouvier. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. relictio a leaving behind. ] (Law) A leaving dry; a recession of the sea or other water, leaving dry land; land left uncovered by such recession. Burrill. [ 1913 Webster ]