relieve-v; 6 Senses

Sense Number 1: mitigate; alleviate

Examples:
These pills will relieve your headaches.
The only thing that relieves the pressure of this job is the gallows humor.
The deal relieved the pressure on the army.
Her assurances relieved his fears.
Have the new drugs relieved the burden of the orthopedic surgeon?

Mappings:
VerbNet: amuse-31.1,free-80-1,cheat-10.6
FrameNet: NP
PropBank: relieve.01
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 1, 4, 7, 11

Sense Number 2: exempt or free from a burden, duty, or requirement

Examples:
The president relieved him from command for gross insubordination.
The sentry relieved him at midnight.
The court ruled that the transfer was on the husband's behalf if it relieved him of an obligation.
An intervening clause relieved her of liability.
In the process, she relieved herself of an overbearing and annoying husband.
Death relieved him from suffering.

Mappings:
VerbNet: cheat-10.6,free-80-1
FrameNet: NP
PropBank: relieve.01
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 2, 3, 6, 8, 10

Sense Number 3: free from the burden of an object

Commentary:
NOTE: Object must be concrete.

Examples:
The housekeeper relieved him of his packages at the door.
I relieved him of his shotgun and nudged him forward.
She relieved herself of the backpack from her back.
The thief relieved them of their watches and wallets.

Mappings:
VerbNet: cheat-10.6,free-80-1
FrameNet: NP
PropBank: relieve.01
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 8, 9

Sense Number 4: calm, reassure

Commentary: Syntax Is: NP1[cause] RELIEVE NP2[experiencer]

Examples:
Her entrance relieved him.
She was able to see through the crack, though, which relieved her to no end.
The child was relieved by the end of his parents' argument.
I was relieved to find my services no longer required.

Mappings:
VerbNet: amuse-31.1,cheat-10.6
FrameNet: NP
PropBank: relieve.02
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 4

Sense Number 5: Save from ruin, destruction, or harm.

Commentary:
NOTE: Object must be abstract.

Examples:
Ordinary people try to relieve the pain of the people of Darfur.

Mappings:
VerbNet: free-80-1
FrameNet: NP
PropBank: NM
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 5

Sense Number 6: RELIEVE ONESELF: urinate

Examples:
She relieved herself right on the front lawn.
My dog always relieves himself first thing in the morning.

Mappings:
VerbNet: NM
FrameNet: NP
PropBank: NM
WordNet Verb Particle Constructions, Multiword Expressions:
relieve_oneself 1