Obs. (? exc. Sc.) Also 4 les, 4–5 lis, lys, 4–6 lysse. [OE. líssian:—pre-Eng. *linþisôjan, f. *linþjo- soft, mild: see LITHE a.]
1. trans. To subdue (only OE.); to mitigate, assuage, relieve (pain, etc.).
a. 1000. Sal. & Sat., 294 (Gr.). Yldo beoþ on eorþan æʓhwæs cræftiʓ … lisseþ [? for lissað] eal ðæt heo wile.
c. 1320. R. Brunne, Medit., 702. Y prey þe sumdele hys peyne þou lys.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 848. Forto lissen his langour.
c. 1470. Golagros & Gaw., 173. Hym likis in land your langour to lis.
1562. Turner, Herbal, II. 113. Such compositiones as stanche or lysse ake.
2. To relieve (of pain, etc.); to comfort.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, I. 702. Lat vs lyssen wo with oþer speche. Ibid., I. 1082. Troylus … is somdel of akynge of his wounde Ilyssed.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xxxviii. (Adrian), 117. As for to les þame of þar payne.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Frankl. T., 442. In hope for to been lissed of his care.
c. 1440. Pol. Rel. & L. Poems, 245/45. This leche lyssyd me, lazars.
c. 1460. J. Russell, Bk. Nurture, 31. Son, open thyn hert for peraventure y cowd the lis.
c. 1470. Harding, Chron. XCIV. ii. In water [he] was cast, his fleshe to keele and lisse.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 352 b/1. That … they may be eased and lyssed of theyr paynes.
3. intr. To abate, cease, stop; to be relieved of.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 3758. Than of my peyne I gan to lisse. Ibid., 4128. I trowe my peyne shall never lisse.
1825–80. Jamieson, To Liss, to cease, to stop. It never lisses, it never ceases, Roxb.
Hence † Lissing vbl. sb.
a. 1412[?]. Lydg., Two Merchants, 641. Which in to lissyng his langour did leede.
