The word "relief" refers to the feeling of comfort or ease that comes after a period of stress, pain, or worry. It can also refer to the reduction or alleviation of something unpleasant, such as symptoms of an illness, anxiety, or burdens. In art, "relief" describes a sculptural technique where the figures project from a flat background.
The word "relief" comes from the Middle English "relief," which means "to raise up, relieve." It has roots in the Old French "relever," meaning "to lift up" or "to raise," and derives from the Latin "relevare," which combines "re-" (again) and "levare" (to lift).