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Brit. /r
m
s/, U.S. /r
ms/, /rims/ Forms: 
. lME-15 remys, lME-15 remysse, lME-16 remisse, lME- remiss, 15 remisshe, 15-17 remis, 16 remish.
. 15 remise, 15 remyse; Sc. pre-17 remise. [< Anglo-Norman and Middle French remis, remisse melted (of wax, etc.) (first half of the 13th cent. in Anglo-Norman), diminished, weakened, exhausted (c1240), weak, negligent, lazy (c1310), delayed, postponed (a1405), calm, serene (1496), (of a vowel) weak, soft, low (1521) and its etymon classical Latin remissus not drawn tight, slack, drooping, sagging, loosely arranged, (of activity or sound) free from passion or vehemence, gentle, relaxed, mild, (of people) free from constraint or solemnity, light-hearted, easy-going, slack, casual, lenient, forbearing, (of conditions) moderate, (of remedies) not potent, (of a patient) free from fever, in post-classical Latin also dissolved, liquid (5th cent. in Palladius; compare quot. ?1440 at sense 1b), weak or weakened in consistency or colour (1363 in Chauliac; compare quot. ?a1425 at sense 1a), use as adjective of past participle of remittere REMIT v. Compare Catalan remís (end of the 13th cent.), Spanish remiso (15th cent.), Portuguese remisso (15th cent.).
The motivation for the 
forms is uncertain; perhaps compare REMISE v.1 or REMISE n.1]
Now chiefly in predicative use.
1. 
a. Chiefly Med. Of a physical property or quality: reduced in intensity. Also of urine: dilute, watery. Obs.
?a1425tr. Guy de Chauliac
Grande Chirurgie (N.Y. Acad. Med.) f. 37
v, Signez of cause of fleume
be
mich inflacioun with remisse [?
c1425 Paris litel; L.
remissa] rednez, hete, & akyng.
c1460(
a1449)
LYDGATE Fabula Duorum Mercatorum (Harl.) 323 in
Minor Poems (1934)
II. 497 His vryne was remys, attenuat By resoun gendryd of ffrigidite.
1547 A. B
ORDE Breuiary of Helthe II. f. xxvii
v, An vrine that is pale of coloure..if it be remysse than is there great coldnesse in the body.
1562 W. BULLEIN Little Dialogue Sorenes & Chyrurgi f. xxviij
v, in
Bulleins Bulwarke Def., If the flesh be remisse redde, and hoat in felyng, whych maie be rectified with Vnguentum Album.
1610 P. HOLLAND tr. W. Camden
Brit. I. 2 The cold with us is much more remisse than in some parts of France and Italie.
1625 J. HART Anat. Urines II. iv. 69 The vrine became of a remisse and light colour, such as it was wont to be.
1686 J. GOAD Astro-meteorologica I. ix. 28 Her Warmth is so remiss and slack, that she seemeth to befriend a Cold Influence.
1720tr. L. Bellini
Mech. Acct. Fevers 90 For the same Reason also..will such Heat be more diffused and general, and not burning and unequal, like that of a more intense Nature, but mild and remiss.
1766 C. B
ISSET Med. Ess. & Observ 55 The native heat at the surface of the body, about the præcordia, was rather below the natural standard, and in the extremities it was still more remiss.
b. Dissolved; liquid. Obs. rare.
?1440tr. Palladius
De Re Rustica (Fitzw.)
I. 1126 White wax, hard picche, remysse
ammonyake
This iij commyxt therefore is good to take; Or thus: ammoniak remysse [L.
remissum] and figis.
c. Originally: (of a sound) weak, soft, low. In later use: (of a syllable) unstressed.
1530 J. PALSGRAVE Lesclarcissement Introd. 16 They gyve..unto theyr consonantes but a sleight and remisshe sounde.
1650 J. BULWER Anthropometamorphosis 203 Instruments which have a more acute or treble sound when the strings are stretched, and a lower and more remisse when they are loosened.
1653 R. SAUNDERS Physiognomie II. 246 The voice acute and smooth, or remiss, with a little trembling.
1705 J. EDWARDS Preacher 199 Some Words that are Emphatical, are to be uttered with a vehemency of Voice, and some with a lower and remiss Accent.
1787 Berwick Museum III. 159/1 An acute small voice denotes timidity and cowardice, and more particularly so, the acute remiss voice.
1835 R. G. P
ARKER Progressive Exercises in Rhetorical Reading xxxv. 97 The unaccented syllables, or those which require the remiss action of the voice, have hyphens - under them.
1986 Jrnl. Linguistics 22 420 The remiss syllable before the final foot is always lower in pitch than that which begins the final foot.
2003 P. S
IMPSON Disc. Satire ii. 24 The trochaic metrical units of the Poppins version, with ictus and remiss syllables distinguished, opens up the spoken discourse parallels with (14).
d. Of a condition, disease, etc.: not intense or strong; moderate, mild. Obs.
1573 P. MOORE Almanack E vj, But all euills shall seeme more remisse and tolerable than they were the laste yere.
1655 H. L'ESTRANGE Reign King Charles 123 The King fell sick of the Small-Pocks, but the malignity was very remisse, and gentle.
1700 J. RAY Persuasive to Holy Life viii. 69 What more remiss and void of trouble than Clemency? What more busy and toilsome than Cruelty?
1701 J. P
ECHEY tr. T. Sydenham
Whole Wks. (ed. 3) 129 As to the other differences of the Symptoms that accompany stationary Fevers, they only respect the various Reasons of the Constitution, and so they are either intense or remiss.
1702 J. PURCELL Treat. Vapours 12 If the cause lies in the Blood, it must have some time to be form'd and collected in a sufficient quantity; (during which time, if you please, the Symptoms are more remiss).
1725 E. S
TROTHER Ess. Sickness & Health (ed. 2) 119 A Carus, is a more remiss Apoplexy, as a Coma is a weaker Carus.
1745 J. T
ENNENT Physical Disquis. 68 On the 11th, she was much better, the Fever abated, Expectoration easy, but not copious, and the other Symptoms quite remiss.
e. Of degree: moderate, low, slight; lesser. Obs.
1620 T. GRANGER Syntagma Logicum 104 Note that these middles haue contrariety in them in the remisse, or remote degree.
1653 R. AUSTEN Treat. Frvit-trees II. 16 Distinct, and severall works of Nature, in moderate, and remisse degrees, are all promoted, at the same time.
1670 W. SIMPSON Hydrol. Ess. 104 Retaining the same..properties in a remiss degree.
1812 J. HILL Family Herbal 342 It has the same virtues with the other, but in a more remiss degree.
f. Of taste or flavour: faint, slight. Obs. rare
1.
1655 N. CULPEPER et al. tr L. Riverius Pract. Physick V. iii. 126 The Taste..is lessened when it scarce perceiveth remiss savors and strong savors but a little.
2. Reduced in tension; slack, loose; relaxed. Cf. REMISSIVE adj. 1 Obs.
?a1425tr. Guy de Chauliac
Grande Chirurgie (N.Y. Acad. Med.) f. 9
v,
e Articulacion of bones is comprehended in
e Circuite with ligamentz stronge & remisse [?
c1425 Paris weyker or febler; L.
remissiuis].
?a1425tr. Guy de Chauliac
Grande Chirurgie (N.Y. Acad. Med.) f. 98
v, Ligature which,
forso, is remisse or slakke [L.
remissa]
holde not
e bones.
1623 K
ING J
AMES VI & I in J. Rushworth
Hist. Coll. I. 116 Not alwayes to use his spurs and keep strait the rein, but sometimes to use the spurs and suffer the reins more remiss.
1644 J. BULWER Chirologia 37 The turned up Hand, (the Thumbe bent in, and the other Fingers remisse).
1667 MILTON Paradise Lost VI. 458 What availes Valour or strength,..quelld with pain Which all subdues, and makes remiss the hands Of Mightiest.
1727tr. Plutarch
Lives VII. 139 Agis held the Reins with too gentle and remiss a Hand.
3. a. Of a person, an organization, etc.: neglectful in the discharge of a task or duty; careless, negligent. Also with in, with.
1474-5 Rolls of Parl.: Edward IV (Electronic ed.) Parl. Oct. 1472 3rd Roll §46. m. 7, If any custumer or comptrollour of any porte be necligent or remisse in noon pakkyng of the said clothes..every such custumer and countrollour, for every such defaute, forfeit unto the kyng .xx. s.
a1500tr.
De Imitatione Christi (Trin. Dublin) (1893) 31
ou shalt gretly sorwe
at ou hast be so remysse [L.
remissus] & so negligent.
?1518 A. BARCLAY tr. D. Mancinus
Myrrour Good Maners sig. Dvi, If thou be in offyce,..Be nat more remyse, do nat thy dutye lesse.
1567-8 Reg. Privy Council Scotl. I 610 Certifeing the personis..that beis fund remysse or negligent in the premissis.
1596 W. WARNER Albions Eng. (rev. ed.)
XII. lxxii. 298 As well as too remisse in choyce, we may be too precise.
1643 W. Y
OUNG Vade Mecum 44 Officers remisse to collect rates.
1671 MILTON Samson Agonistes 239 In seeking just occasion to provoke The Philistine..Thou never wast remiss, I bear thee witness.
1696 R. BENTLEY Of Revel. & Messias 3 Who can tell, if..they might not in long tract of time have grown remiss in the duties..of Religion?
1746 C. MACKLIN Henry VII IV. vi. 73 Sir David Bruce is not Wont to be remiss. He is sure and trusty.
1776 C. L
EE in J. Sparks
Corr. Amer. Revol. (1853) I. 158 Though I confess I am naturally remiss, I have not neglected my duty in this point.
1838 C. THIRLWALL Hist. Greece IV. 55 The satrap..had become as remiss as before in making the stipulated payments.
1862 J. D
EVEY Life of Joseph Locke xxi. 303 The House, always remiss when the voting of large sums of money is concerned, is never more remiss than when such sums relate to the naval administration.
1893 Academy 10 June 497/1 He was a very remiss correspondent.
1935 R. A. KNOX Barchester Pilgrimage i. 43 The signora had taken care to develop an imaginary ailment, over which she hastened to consult him professionally if she found him remiss in paying his devoirs.
1987 T. C. B
OYLE World's End (1988)
II. xxviii. 371 Woe to the unsuspecting scholar who was remiss with his payment.
2004 S. A. H
ALPERN Lesser Harms vi. 137 The board was remiss in failing to identify research findings linking hexamethonium to lung damage.
b. Of conduct, an action, etc.: characterized by carelessness, negligence, or lack of attention.
?1504 W. A
TKINSON tr.
Ful Treat. Imytacyon Cryste (Pynson)
I. xxiii. 173 Than shalte thou repent full sore of thy remysse and neclygent lyfe [L.
valde dolebis, quia tam negligens, et remissus fuisti].
1509 A. BARCLAY tr. S. Brant
Shyp of Folys f. ccvi
v, Idylnes By wayes remys and dranynge neglygence Of all other synne is rote.
1599 BP. J. KING Lect. Jonas xvi. 216 In the eares of God a vehement desire is a great crie, a remisse and carelesse intention is a submisse and still voice.
1656 EARL OF MONMOUTH tr. T. Boccalini
Ragguagli di Parnasso (1674)
I. xxxviii. 50, I, in the beginning of my Principality seemed to be of a remiss spirit, and totally incapable of the great affairs of State.
a1674 T. TRAHERNE Christian Ethicks (1675) 169 To exert Almighty Power in a remiss and lazy manner, is infinitely Base and Dishonourable.
1712 J. ADDISON Spectator No. 471. ¶6 Hope..keeps the Mind awake in her most Remiss and Indolent Hours.
1754 D. B
ELLAMY Family-preacher I 198 How highly blame-worthy are we..as to read them in a careless and remiss manner, as an unwelcome task.
1817 J. MILL Hist. Brit. India II.
V. viii. 663 [He] was appointed, under the..expectation, that he would supply what had been remiss in the conduct of his predecessor.
1886 Illustr. London News 20 Feb. 194/2 It was remiss in Aunt Louisa not to have offered to be her chaperon.
1955 F. OWEN Tempestuous Journey: Lloyd George, His Life & Times xxxiv. 738 It broke..in Britain with a statement by the Bishop of Bradford, rebuking the King for his remiss conduct.
1985 S. O'B
RIEN Negative Scream 126 It would be totally remiss of me not to mention the numerous self-help groups that exist.
2005 J. L
ITTLEWOOD Biol. Weapons Convent. iv. 103 The failure of the reformists to exploit this opportunity was remiss.
4. a. Characterized by a lack of strictness or proper restraint; lax, undisciplined.
In later use merging with sense 3.
a1500tr.
De Imitatione Christi (Trin. Dublin) (1893) 37 The religiose man
at is
wioute discipline is open to a greuous falle; He
at euermore
seki o inges at are most laxe and most remisse shal euer be in anguissh [L.
qui laxiora quærit et remissiora, semper in angustiis erit].
1541 T. ELYOT Image of Gouernance Pref. sig. av
v, By the lasciuiouse and remisse education of Varius Heliogabalus, he grewe to be a person most monstruouse in liuing.
1583 P. STUBBES Anat. Abuses I. sig Fvii, This ouer great lenitie, & remisse libertie in the education of youthe.
1624 in J. Rushworth
Hist. Coll. (1659) I. 160 So dangerous it is for Princes by a remiss comportment, to give growth to the least Error.
1651-3 BP. J. TAYLOR Serm. for Year (1678) 224 A seldom restraint,
a remiss discipline.
1723 R. BLACKMORE Alfred VII. 215 Alfred returns to Court,..and while there, growing more remiss and less guarded, he tastes the Pleasures of the Place with unwarrantable Liberty.
1751 JOHNSON Rambler No. 157.
3 Many among my fellow-students took the opportunity of a more remiss discipline to gratify their passions.
1786 J. A
PPLETON Coll. Disc. II. 357, I own these commands are harsh. But to whom? To such remiss and lax people, who, on the plea of it's great severity, take no pains to fulfil what this holy law enjoins.
1845 Biblical Repository Apr. vi. 342 No denomination in this country, excepting the Unitarian, is so remiss in discipline..as the great body of the Episcopal church.
1862 H. M
ERIVALE Hist. Romans under Empire (1865) VII. 165 The men were generally attached to Vitellius, whom they knew, and liked perhaps for his largesses or his remiss discipline.
2004 L. K
OHN Daoist Monastic Man. xx. 172 One violates the dignified observances on the outside and becomes remiss and lax in one's mind on the inside.
b. Not strict or severe in punishing; lenient.
In later use merging with sense 3a.
1569 R. GRAFTON Chron. II. 927 They were gentle and remisse to a great number, and specially to such as offended by cohercion and feare.
1613 Edict agst. Priv. Combats (title-page), Straitly charging all officers and other His Majestie's subjects to use no conniuencie, or remisse proceedings toward such offenders.
1651 N. BACON Contin. Hist. Disc. Govt. 175 Coming in by the Peoples favour, he was obleiged to be rather remisse, then rigorous.
1694 BP. G. BURNET Four Disc. p. vii, Private Men might among the Jews, when the Magistrate was remiss, fall upon Offenders, and punish them, especially in the case of Idolatry.
1751 F. COVENTRY Hist. Pompey Little II. xii. 238 Unless they discouraged such a Piece of Villainy with proper Severity, it might hereafter be their own Lots, if they were remiss in punishing the present Offender.
1844 DICKENS Martin Chuzzlewit x. 122 Could it be that the statutes of the land were so remiss as to have affixed no punishment to such delinquency?
1908 J. G
AIRDNER Lollardy & Reformation III. Introd. p. xxix, He was favoured by the Prior who was remiss in punishing his manifest offences.
1981 R. L. G
REAVES Society & Relig. in Elizabethan Eng. v. 234 Barrow believed that the High Commission was remiss in punishing adulterers, settling for..mulcting rather than death.
5. Delayed, postponed. Obs.
?1518 A. BARCLAY tr. D. Mancinus
Myrrour Good Maners sig. Cii, In sentence remyse, is lesser iniury Than in heedlynge sentence, pronounsed hastely.
6. a. Free from vehemence or violence; gentle; (also) lacking in energy or effort. Obs.
1550 T. NICOLLS tr. Thucydides
Hist. Peloponnesian War f. 14, The one is more vehemente for to moue mens hartes, the other more remys [Fr.
remys] and gentle.
1586 G. PETTIE &
B. YOUNG tr. S. Guazzo
Ciuile Conuersat. (rev. ed.)
IV. 189 Euen so after meate,..our will prone to wickednesse, is become more remisse and temperate.
a1600(?
c1535) tr. H. Boece
Hist. Scotl (1946) f. 295
v, Gif Saxouns has stout, and
e remys, corage [etc.].
1644 J. BULWER Chirologia 32 The Hand restrained and kept in is an argument of modesty..sutable to a milde and remisse declamation.
1695 J. WOODWARD Ess. Nat. Hist. Earth 190 Its Motion becomes more languid and remiss.
1707 J. FLOYER Physician's Pulse-watch 364 A remiss Pulse, is when it is small and slow.
1727 Art Speaking in Publick vi. 84 An Orator ought not to be too Remiss, neither in his Action, nor too Mild-spoken.
1752 D. HUME Ess. & Treat. (1777) I. 179 The passion must neither be too violent nor too remiss.
a1856 W. HAMILTON Lect. Metaphysics (1859) II. xlv. 493 Pain or dissatisfaction experienced, when the energy elicited is either inordinately vehement or too remiss.
1859 A. H. CLOUGH tr. Plutarch
Lives I. 331 Elpinice.induced him to be more remiss and gentle in urging the charge.
b. Free from work or labour. Obs. rare 1.
1566 W. ADLINGTON tr. Apuleius
Golden Asse IV. xxii. f. 45, With great lamentation was ordained a remisse time [L.
iustitium] for that day.
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