# rest

Pronunciation: US say "REST" /ɹɛst/; UK

## Noun

1. The part, people, or things that remain after some have been taken, used, or mentioned; the remainder or the others.
   - Simple: What is left, or the other people or things, as in the rest of the cake or the rest of the class.
   - _After paying the bills, she put the rest into savings._
   - _He drank some of the water and poured the rest down the sink._
3. A period of relaxing, sleeping, or doing nothing after activity, so as to recover strength.
   - Simple: Time spent relaxing or sleeping so you can recover after being active or tired.
   - _A brief rest between climbs let the team recover their strength._
   - _After a grueling week of double shifts, the nurses were finally given two full days of rest._
11. A peaceful final state after death; also, a gentle way of referring to death itself.
   - Simple: A peaceful word for death, or the calm state after someone has died.
   - _The epitaph spoke of her rest as a release from years of pain._
   - _Mourners gathered to see the soldier brought to his final rest._
8. An object designed to support or hold up something else.
   - Simple: A stand or support that holds something up.
   - _The violin teacher adjusted the chin rest so the boy could hold the instrument comfortably._
   - _At the shooting range, he steadied the rifle's barrel on a padded rest._
13. A state of peace and tranquility, free from worry, anxiety, or disturbance.
   - Simple: A calm, peaceful feeling, with no worry or stress.
   - _For months after the accident he knew no rest, tormented by the thought that he might have prevented it._
   - _She found no rest while her brother was still missing._
9. A state of not moving or of inactivity.
   - Simple: The state of being still and not moving, as in an object at rest.
   - _An object at rest stays still unless a force acts on it._
   - _The block remained at rest despite the gentle slope._
10. A place where one may stop, whether for a short stay like an inn or as a permanent home.
   - Simple: A place where someone can stop to relax or stay.
16. In music, a pause of a set length, or the written symbol in a score that marks it.
   - Simple: In music, a silent pause of a set length, or the sign in written music that shows it.
   - _The conductor held the orchestra silent through a two-beat rest._
   - _A well-placed rest can build tension before the final phrase._
21. In cue sports, a long stick with a U-, V- or X-shaped head that supports the front of the cue's shaft in place of the hand when the cue ball is out of reach.
   - Simple: A stick with a special head that holds up the cue when the ball is too far to reach.
   - _The player asked for the rest to bridge over the cluster of red balls._
   - _She positioned the rest carefully before striking the distant cue ball._
22. A short pause in reading a line of poetry; a caesura.
   - Simple: A short pause when reading a line of poetry.
   - _Reading the sonnet aloud, she paused at the rest in the middle of each line, letting its two halves balance._
   - _A rest at the caesura lets the listener absorb the first half of the line._

## Verb

2. To stop working or moving for a while, or to sleep, in order to relax and recover strength.
   - Simple: To stop doing things for a while, or sleep, so you can relax and get your strength back.
   - _The hikers rested in the shade before continuing up the trail._
   - _Doctors advise patients to rest until the fever passes._
4. To lean, lie, or be placed so as to be supported by something.
   - Simple: To lean or place something against or on top of another thing.
   - _Heavy beams rest across the top of the doorway._
   - _He rested the ladder against the wall._
5. To rely or depend on something as a basis or support.
   - Simple: To depend on something for support or proof.
   - _Such conclusions rest on untested assumptions._
   - _The prosecution's case rested entirely on circumstantial evidence._
6. To remain or be situated somewhere, or to belong to someone as a duty or right.
   - Simple: To stay in a place, or to belong to someone as their duty, right or power.
   - _Such decisions rest with the voters alone._
   - _Final authority over the estate rests with the eldest heir._
7. To sleep in death; a peaceful way of saying that someone has died and lies still.
   - Simple: To lie dead, used as a gentle way of saying someone has died.
   - _May the departed rest in eternal peace._
   - _Generations of the family rest in the churchyard beyond the village._
12. To give something relief by placing it in a state of stillness or relaxation.
   - Simple: To let something stop and relax, such as your eyes or legs.
   - _Coaches often rest their best players before an important match._
   - _He rested his voice for a day after the concert._
14. In a legal trial, to finish presenting one's case and then wait for the outcome. *(US)*
   - Simple: In a trial, to finish presenting your side and then wait for the decision.
   - _The attorney chose to rest her case without calling more witnesses._
   - _Once both sides had rested, the judge instructed the jury._
15. To continue to be, or to be left, in a particular state or condition.
   - Simple: To stay in a certain state or way.
   - _Customers can rest assured that their payment details are encrypted._
   - _Parents can rest assured that a trained lifeguard watches the pool at all times._
17. To be free from what disturbs or troubles you; to be quiet, still, and undisturbed.
   - Simple: To stop being active and feel calm, with nothing bothering you.
   - _His conscience would not let him rest until he had apologized to his brother._
   - _As long as the letter remained missing, her mind could not rest, and she searched every drawer in the house._
18. To lie dormant; to remain inactive or unused for a time.
   - Simple: To stay still and inactive for a time.
   - _The fields rest through the cold months before planting begins._
   - _Under the old system, a third of the land was left to rest each year so that the soil could recover._
19. To arrive at a pause or a stopping point; to come to an end.
   - Simple: To stop moving or come to a pause or a final end.
   - _Don't expect the story to rest there; reporters will be digging for weeks._
   - _The matter rested there for nearly a decade, until a new witness came forward._
20. To be satisfied with something and accept it without further objection.
   - Simple: To feel happy with something and accept it without arguing.
   - _Unwilling to rest satisfied with a vague apology, the customers demanded a full refund._
   - _He refused to rest satisfied with second place._
24. To be left untouched for a while before cutting, serving, or further cooking, as cooked meat or dough is; also, to leave food standing like that.
   - Simple: For food like cooked meat or dough, to sit for a while before you cut, serve, or cook it more.
   - _Steaks should rest on a warm plate so the juices settle back into the meat._
   - _Many bakers rest their bread dough in the fridge overnight to develop flavor._

## Noun

23. A set or game within a match of tennis. *(dated)*
   - Simple: A single game or set in a tennis match.

## Other meanings

- (noun) The striking of a balance in a running account at regular intervals, often the points at which compound interest is added to the capital.
- (noun) A projection on the right side of a suit of armor, used to support the lance.
- (noun) A bank's reserve of surplus profit, kept to hold dividends steady, and at the Bank of England, what assets come to beyond liabilities.
- (verb) To keep someone or something in a given state, as in 'God rest you merry'.
- (verb) To take someone into custody.

## Origin

**Meanings 3, 8–11, 13, 16, 21–23** — From Middle English rest, from Old English ræst, going back to Proto-Germanic *rastō, whose earlier origin is uncertain, possibly a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "rest." It is related to Dutch rust, German Rast, and Swedish rast, all meaning rest.
**Meanings 2, 4–7, 12, 14, 17–20, 24** — Old English restan became Middle English resten. It goes back to Proto-West Germanic *rastijan ("to rest"), possibly from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "rest." Dutch rusten, German rasten, and Swedish rasta, all meaning "to rest," are related.
**Meaning 1** — Latin restō ("to stay back, stay behind"), made of re- and stō ("to stand"), gave Old French rester ("to remain") and the noun reste. Middle English took this as reste, and it pushed out the native Middle English word lave ("rest, remainder").
**Meaning 15** — From Middle English resten, from Old French rester, from Latin restō.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/rest (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).