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Etymology data from Wiktionary via Wiktextract (CC BY-SA 4.0). Chinese character data from the 說文解字, the Taiwan MOE 國語辭典簡編本 (CC BY-ND 3.0 TW) and HSK/TOCFL lists.

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English

release

/ɹəˈliːs/
The event of setting (someone or something) free (e.g. hostages, slaves, prisoners, caged animals, hooked or stuck mechanisms).

    Etymology graph

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    • borrowed
    • derived
    • parts
    • meaning component
    • sound component
    • related
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    Origin

    Etymology 1

    From Middle English relesen, relessen, from Old French relaisser (variant of relascher).

    Etymology 2

    From re- + lease.

    From Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.

    Lineage

    • inheritedMiddle Englishrelesen
      • borrowedOld Frenchrelaisser
        • derivedOld Frenchrelaschier
          • partOld Frenchre- “again, once more”
          • partOld Frenchlaschier
    • partEnglishre- “again, anew”
      • inheritedMiddle Englishre-
    • partEnglishlease “An interest in land granting exclusive use or occupation of real estate for a limited period; a lea…”
      • inheritedMiddle English*lesen
        • derivedAnglo-Norman*leser
      • inheritedMiddle Englishlesen
        • inheritedOld Englishlesan “to collect, pick, select, gather”
        • inheritedOld Englishlēasian “to lie, tell lies”
        • inheritedOld Englishlēosan
        • inheritedOld Englishlȳsan
      • inheritedMiddle Englishlese
        • inheritedOld Englishlǣs “smaller, less”
      • derivedEnglishleash “A strap, cord or rope with which to restrain an animal, often a dog.”
        • inheritedMiddle Englishleesshe

    Meanings

    noun
    1. The event of setting (someone or something) free (e.g. hostages, slaves, prisoners, caged animals, hooked or stuck mechanisms).
    2. The distribution, either public or private, of an initial or new and upgraded version of a computer software product.
    3. Anything recently released or made available (as for sale).
    4. That which is released, untied or let go.
    5. The giving up of a claim, especially a debt.
    6. Liberation from pain or suffering.
    verb
    1. To let go of; to cease to hold or contain.
    2. To make available to the public.
    3. To free or liberate; to set free.
    4. To discharge.
    5. (of a call) To hang up.
    6. To let go, quit (a legal claim); to discharge or relinquish a right to (lands or buildings) by conveying to another who has some right or estate in possession.

    Sources

    • Wiktionary (via Wiktextract / kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0
    • Wiktionary: release