[ad. L. laxātiōn-em, n. of action f. laxāre: see LAX v. and -ATION.] The action of loosening or relaxing; the state of being loosened or relaxed; occas. an instance or means of relaxing, a laxative application.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., VIII. xxvii. (1495), 337. Hote water is contrary to laxacion yf the heete of the ayre is not stronge for the tyme also.
c. 1550. Lloyd, Treas. Health (1585), K iv. Beanes sodde in Veniger … do greatlye withold Laxation.
1579. Twyne, Phisicke agst. Fort., I. xxiv. 33 a. These are the prouocations of leacherie, these are the laxations of libertie.
1640. Bp. Reynolds, Passions, v. 34. That Law, without execution whereof there cannot but follow a laxation of the whole frame [of Nature].
1661. Lovell, Hist. Anim. & Min., 420. The hernia,… it’s cured by laxation.
1669. W. Simpson, Hydrol. Chym., 127. By reason of the laxation and flagging of the membranes.
1699. T. Bennet, Dissenters Pleas (1711), Introd. 5. By reason of … Laxation of Disciplin in those wars, Atheism has much increas’d.
1832. I. Taylor, Saturday Even., 26. The movement—the laxation of the human mind in all countries.
1897. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., IV. 252. An initial mercurial purge, followed by milder saline laxations … will afford some amelioration.
