Slacken
/ˈslæk.ən/noun
To make or become less tight, firm, or intense; to slow down or loosen.
Did you know?Slacken comes from a Germanic root meaning “to be slack/loose,” and its deep cousin network includes words tied to the idea of dragging or being weak rather than anything mystical.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*slakaz
“loose, slack, not tight”
Old English
OE
slæc
“slack, sluggish, inactive”
Old English
OE
slæccan
“to make slack, loosen”
Middle English
ME
slakken
“to loosen, make less tense; to slow down”
Modern English
English
slacken
“to make or become less tight, firm, or rapid”