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rest

n. · v.
US //ˈɹɛst// UK //ɹˈɛst// rest
  1. 1 relaxation or sleep (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    a period of time when you relax, sleep, or stop working to get your energy back.

    a period of inactivity or sleep intended to recover physical or mental energy.

    Example

    You look tired; you should go home and get some rest.

    Example

    After a grueling fourteen-hour shift, the medical staff finally had a brief opportunity for some much-needed rest.
  2. 2 the remainder (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    the part of something that is left over, or the other people in a group.

    the remaining part, portion, or number of something; the others.

    Example

    I finished half of the cake, and my brother ate the rest.

    Example

    While the initial findings were promising, the rest of the data suggested that the experiment required further calibration.

    Usage

    Always used with 'the' and often followed by 'of'.
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  1. 3 music pause (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Music

    a silence in music, or the symbol that shows where the music stops for a moment.

    an interval of silence in a musical composition, or the notation representing such a pause.

    Example

    The pianist held the rest for two beats before starting the next section.

    Example

    The composer utilized a series of dramatic rests to build tension before the final orchestral crescendo.
  2. 4 to relax or stop working (v.)
    A2 Elementary

    to stop doing an activity so that you can become stronger or calmer.

    to cease work or movement in order to relax or recover strength.

    Example

    The hikers decided to rest by the river for twenty minutes.

    Example

    The coach advised the athletes to rest their muscles for at least forty-eight hours between intensive training sessions.
  3. 5 to lean or place on (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to lean something against a support, or to lie on something.

    to lean, lie, or be supported by something; to place an object in a supported position.

    Example

    She rested her elbows on the table and listened to the story.

    Example

    The heavy marble slab rests upon four ornate bronze pillars, each carved with intricate floral patterns.
  4. 6 to depend on (v.)
    C1 Advanced Formal

    to be based on something or to depend on it.

    to be based on or grounded in something; to depend on a particular factor for success.

    Example

    The success of the project rests on everyone working together.

    Example

    The entire legal argument rests on the interpretation of a single clause within the 1988 treaty.
  5. 7 to finish a legal case (v.)
    C1 Advanced Formal Law

    to finish presenting your side of a story in a court of law.

    to conclude the presentation of evidence in a court case.

    Example

    The lawyer said, 'The defense rests,' and sat down.

    Example

    After calling their final witness to the stand, the prosecution announced that they would rest their case.

    Usage

    Usually used in the phrase 'the prosecution/defense rests'.
Etymology 1

From Middle English rest, reste, from Old English ræst, from Proto-West Germanic rastu, from Proto-Germanic rastō, from Proto-Indo-European ros-, res-, *erH- (“rest”). Cognate with West Frisian rêst (“rest”), Dutch rust (“rest”), German Rast (“rest”), Swedish rast (“rest”), Norwegian rest (“rest”), Icelandic röst (“rest”), Old Irish árus (“dwelling”), German Ruhe (“calm”), Albanian resht (“to stop, pause”), Welsh araf (“quiet, calm, gentle”), Lithuanian rovà (“calm”), Ancient Greek ἐρωή (erōḗ, “rest, respite”), Avestan 𐬀𐬌𐬭𐬌𐬨𐬈 (aⁱrime, “calm, peaceful”), Sanskrit रमते (rámate, “he stays still, calms down”), Gothic 𐍂𐌹𐌼𐌹𐍃 (rimis, “tranquility”). Related to roo.

Etymology 2

From Middle English resten, from Old English restan, from Proto-West Germanic rastijan (“to rest”), from Proto-Indo-European ros-, res-, erH- (“rest”). Cognate with Dutch rusten (“to rest”), Middle Low German resten (“to rest”), German rasten (“to rest”), Danish raste (“to rest”), Swedish rasta (“to rest”).

Etymology 3

From Middle English reste, from Old French reste, from Old French rester (“to remain”), from Latin restō (“to stay back, stay behind”), from re- + stō (“to stand”). Replaced native Middle English lave (“rest, remainder”) (from Old English lāf (“remnant, remainder”)).

Etymology 4

From Middle English resten, from Old French rester, from Latin restō.

Etymology 5

Aphetic form of arrest.

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