• Remit

    Pronunciation

    • British IPA: /ɹɪˈmɪt/
    • US IPA: /ɹiˈmɪt/

    Origin

    From Latin remittere ("to send, send back").

    Full definition of remit

    Verb

    1. To forgive, pardon.
      • 2009, Diarmaid MacCulloch, A History of Christianity, Penguin 2010, p. 307:So he said that there was no sin to remit in baptism: ‘sin is not born with a man, it is subsequently committed by the man; for it is shown to be a fault, not of nature, but of the human will’.
    2. To refrain from exacting or enforcing.to remit the performance of an obligation
      • MacaulayThe sovereign was undoubtedly competent to remit penalties.
    3. To give up, stop succumbing to (a negative emotion etc.).
    4. To allow (something) to slacken, to relax (one's attention etc.).
    5. (obsolete) To show a lessening or abatement (of) a specified quality.
      • 1621, Robert Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy, New York 2001, p. 132-3:Great Alexander in the midst of all his prosperity ..., when he saw one of his wounds bleed, remembered that he was but a man, and remitted of his pride.
    6. (obsolete) To diminish, abate.
      • 1621, Robert Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy, Book I, New York 2001, p. 139:Dotage, fatuity, or folly ... is for the most part intended or remitted in particular men, and thereupon some are wiser than others ....
    7. To refer (something) for deliberation, judgment, etc. (to a particular body or person).
      • BlackstoneIn the case the law remits him to his ancient and more certain right.
      • HaywardIn grievous and inhuman crimes, offenders should be remitted to their prince.
      • DrydenThe prisoner was remitted to the guard.
    8. To send back; to give up; to surrender; to resign.
    9. To restore.
      • HaywardThe archbishop was ... remitted to his liberty.
    10. To postpone.
    11. To transmit or send, as money in payment.

    Derived terms

    Related terms

    Noun

    remit

    (plural remits)
    1. (chiefly British) terms of reference; set of responsibilities.
      • 2000: Scientific Working Group on Good Laboratory Practice issues, Handbook: Good Laboratory Practice read on World Health Organisation website at http://www.who.int/tdr/publications/publications/pdf/glp-handbook.pdf on 14 May 2006:WHO/TDR should prepare a volume containing ... important issues in the performance of studies that fall outside of the GLP remit.
      • 2001: H. Meinardi et al, ILAE Commission, The treatment gap in epilepsy: the current situation and ways forward read at on 14 May 2006:However, this is beyond the remit of this particular article.
      • 2003: Andy Macleod, Cisco Systems, Pulling it all together - the 21st Century Campus read at on 14 May 2006:Next steps ... Create one IS organisation and extend remit to all HE activities.
      • 2012, The Economist, Sep 29th 2012 issue, Chile's economic statistics: For reacher - or poorer... Chile needs to gather together its statisticians into a single agency, such as a new and improved INE, and give it more autonomy and a broader remit.
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