- release (v.)
- c.1300, "to withdraw, revoke," also "to liberate" (c.1300), from Old French relaisser "to relinquish, quit, let go, leave behind," variant of relacher "release, relax," from Latin relaxare (see relax). Meaning "relinquish, surrender" is recorded from late 14c. Of press reports, attested from 1904; of motion pictures, from 1912; of music recordings, from 1962. As a euphemism for "to dismiss, fire from a job" it is attested in American English since 1904. Related: Released; releasing.
- release (n.)
- early 14c., from Old French reles (12c.), a back-formation from relesser, relaisser (see release (v.)).