Etymology dictionary

reck (n.) — rectification (n.)

reck (n.)

"care, heed, consideration," 1560s, from reck (v.).

Middle English recheles, from Old English receleas "careless, thoughtless, heedless," earlier reccileas, literally "not recking (of consequences)" from *rece, recce "care, heed," from reccan "to care" (see reck (v.)) + -less. The same affixed form is in German ruchlos, Dutch roekeloos "wicked."

The root verb reck (Old English reccan) is passing into obscurity; the range of Middle English spellings might reflect uncertainty even then about it, e.g. rechiles, retcheles, recelease, richeles, regeles, reccles, rakeles.

recklessness (n.)

"state or quality of being heedless," Middle English rechelesnes, from Old English recceleasnes "recklessness, carelessness, negligence;" see reckless + -ness.

recklessly (adv.)

"with rash or desperate heedlessness, imprudently," Middle English rechelesnes, from Old English recceleaslice; see reckless + -ly (2).

reckoning (n.)

early 14c., rekening, "a narration, account," verbal noun from reckon (v.). The meaning "a settling of accounts" is from mid-14c.; that of "act of counting or computing, a calculation" is from late 14c. as is the sense of "a bill of charges" (in an inn, tavern, etc.). Compare Dutch rekening "a bill, account, reckoning," Old High German rechenunga, German rechnung, Danish regning "a reckoning, computation."

The general sense is "a summing up," whether in words or numbers. In nautical use from 1660s: "Calculation of the position of a ship from the rate as determined by the log and the course as determined by the compass." Day of reckoning is attested from c. 1600; the notion is of rendering an account of one's life and conduct to God at death or judgment.

reckon (v.)

c. 1200, recenen, rekenen, "enumerate, count up; name one by one; relate, recount; make calculations," from Old English gerecenian "to explain, relate, recount; arrange in order," from Proto-Germanic *(ga)rakinaz "ready, straightforward" (source also of Old Frisian rekenia, Middle Dutch and Dutch rekenen, Old High German rehhanon, German rechnen, Gothic rahnjan "to count, reckon"), from PIE root *reg- "move in a straight line," with derivatives meaning "to direct in a straight line," thus "to lead, rule."

The intransitive sense of "make a computation, cast up an account" is from c. 1300. From 1550s as "take into account." In I reckon the sense is "hold as a supposition or opinion, regard, consider as being," and the expression, used parenthetically, dates from c. 1600 and formerly was in literary use (Richardson, Swift, Jowett, etc.), but came to be associated with U.S. Southern dialect and thereafter was regarded by Anglophiles as provincial or vulgar. Related: Reckoned; reckoning.

reckoner (n.)

c. 1200, rekenere, "one who keeps accounts or computes," agent noun from reckon (v.). Later especially "an aid in reckoning, something that assists a person to reckon accounts;" especially "book of tables used in calculation," often known as a ready reckoner (1757).

reclaim (v.)

early 14c., reclaimen, "call back a hawk to the glove," from Old French reclamer "to call upon, invoke; claim; seduce; to call back a hawk" (12c., Modern French réclamer) and directly from Latin reclamare "cry out against, contradict, protest, appeal," from re- "opposite, against" (see re-) + clamare "cry out" (from PIE root *kele- (2) "to shout").

"Call out; call back a hawk," hence "make tame" (mid-15c.), "subdue, reduce to obedience, make amenable to control" (late 14c.). Many Middle English senses lack an apparent notion of return or reciprocation (not unusual with Middle English re- words). Meaning "revoke" (a grant, gift, etc.) is from late 15c. That of "recall (someone) from an erring course to a proper state" is from mid-15c.

The sense of "get back by effort" might reflect influence of claim. The specific meaning "bring waste land into useful condition fit for cultivation" is attested by 1764, probably on notion of "reduce to obedience" (perhaps from the image of taming wild animals) rather than a suggestion of a return to a previous condition. Related: Reclaimed; reclaiming.

reclamation (n.)

late 15c., reclamacion, "a revoking" (of a grant, etc.), from Old French réclamacion and directly from Latin reclamationem (nominative reclamatio) "a cry of 'no,' a shout of disapproval," noun of action from past participle stem of reclamare "cry out against, protest" (see reclaim). From 1630s as "action of calling (someone) back" (from iniquity, etc.); meaning "action of claiming as a possession something taken away" is from 1787. Of waste land from 1848; the notion is "action of subduing to fitness or use;" of used or waste material or objects, by 1937.

reclassify (v.)

also re-classify, "to classify anew or again," by 1852; see re- "back, again" + classify (v.). Related: Reclassified; reclassifying; reclassification.

recliner (n.)

1660s, "one who or that which reclines," agent noun from recline. From 1880 as a type of chair the back of which can be tilted as desired, earlier known as a reclining-chair (1831). Middle English had reclinatorie "a canopied bed or couch" (early 15c.).

recline (v.)

early 15c., reclinen, transitive, "cause to lean backward or downwards (on something); lay (something) down," from Old French recliner "rest, lay; bend, lean over" (13c.) and directly from Latin reclinare "to bend back, to lean back; cause to lean," from re- "back, against" (see re-) + clinare "to bend" (from PIE *klein-, suffixed form of root *klei- "to lean"). The intransitive sense of "rest in a recumbent posture" is from 1590s. Related: Reclined; reclining.

As a companion noun, reclination "action, posture, etc. of reclining" (1570s, from Late Latin reclinationem) seem not to have caught on.

reclinable (adj.)

"that may be tilted or set in a reclining position," 1840; see recline (v.) + -able.

reclothe (v.)

also re-clothe, "to clothe again or anew," 1630s; see re- "back, again" + clothe (v.). Related: Reclothed; reclothing.

reclusive (adj.)

1590s, of things, places, etc., "affording retirement from society," from recluse (q.v.) + -ive. By 20c. it was used predominantly of persons, "tending to live a retired life and mix little in society." Related: Reclusively; reclusiveness. Recluse alone formerly served also as an adjective in English (early 13c.).

recluse (n.)

c. 1200, "person shut up or withdrawn from the world and secular living for purposes of religious meditation," originally and especially as a member of a religious community, from Old French reclus (fem. recluse) "hermit, recluse," also "confinement, prison; convent, monastery," noun use of reclus (adj.) "shut up," from Late Latin reclusus, past participle of recludere "to shut up, enclose" (but in classical Latin "to throw open"), from Latin re-, here perhaps an intensive prefix (see re-), + claudere "to shut" (see close (v.)).

Also in part via Medieval Latin nouns reclusus, reclusa. By late 17c. in the secular and softened sense of "one who lives a retired life and mixes little in society." Middle English also had a verb reclusen "to shut up (in some place), confine," and the past-participle adjective reclused "living in seclusion" (c. 1200). Recluse as an adjective meaning "shut up or apart from the world" is attested from early 13c. Also in Middle English was reclusion "state of retirement from the world" (c. 1400), from Medieval Latin reclusionem.

recognize (v.)

early 15c., recognisen, "resume possession of land," a back-formation from recognizance, or else from Old French reconoiss-, present-participle stem of reconoistre "to know again, identify, recognize," from Latin recognoscere "acknowledge, recall to mind, know again; examine; certify," from re- "again" (see re-) + cognoscere "to get to know, recognize" (see cognizance).

With ending assimilated to verbs in -ise, -ize. The meaning "know (the object) again, recall or recover the knowledge of, perceive an identity with something formerly known or felt" is recorded from 1530s. Related: Recognized; recognizing.

recognization (n.)

"act of recognizing," 1550s, from recognize + noun ending -ation.

recognise (v.)

chiefly British English spelling of recognize; for spelling, see -ize. Related: Recognised; recognising; recognisance; recognisable.

recognition (n.)

mid-15c., recognicion, "knowledge (of an event or incident); understanding," from Old French recognition (15c.) and directly from Latin recognitionem (nominative recognitio) "a reviewing, investigation, examination," noun of action from past-participle stem of recognoscere "to acknowledge, know again; examine" (see recognize).

Sense of "acknowledgment of a service or kindness done" is from 1560s. Sense of "formal avowal of knowledge and approval" (as between governments or sovereigns) is from 1590s; especially acknowledgement of the independence of a country by a state formerly exercising sovereignty (1824). The meaning "a knowing again, consciousness that a given object is identical with an object previously recognized" is by 1798 (Wordsworth). The literary (especially stage) recognition scene "scene in which a principal character suddenly learns or realizes the true identity of another character" is by 1837 (in a translation from German).

recognizance (n.)

early 14c., reconisaunce, in law, "a bond acknowledging some obligation binding one over to do some particular act," from Old French reconissance "acknowledgment, recognition" (12c., Modern French reconnaissance), from reconoiss-, present-participle stem of reconoistre (see recognize).

By c. 1400 as "acknowledgment of subjection or allegiance" (to God or a temporal power). The general sense of "act of recognizing, acknowledgement of a person or thing" is from 15c. To be discharged or released (up)on (one's) own recognizance (1851) as a phrase for "be released without bail on condition of good behavior" in the jargon of police blotters and district courts, is based on the written promise that you sign to get it, to appear in court as required. Related: Recognizant.

recognizable (adj.)

"able to be recognized, capable of being known and acknowledged," 1751; see recognize (v.) + -able. Related: Recognizably; recognizability.

recoil (v.)

c. 1200, recoilen, transitive, "force back, drive back, beat back" (senses now archaic or obsolete); c. 1300, intransitive, "shrink back, retreat," from Old French reculer "to go back, give way, recede, retreat" (12c.), from Vulgar Latin *reculare, from Latin re- "back" (see re-) + culus "backside, bottom, fundament" (see tutu). The sense of "spring back" (as a firearm when discharged) is attested from 1520s. Related: Recoiled; recoiling.

recoil (n.)

c. 1300, "a retreat, a drawing back" (a sense now obsolete), from Old French recul "recoil, backward movement, retreat," from reculer (see recoil (v.)). Meaning "back-kick of a firearm or piece of ordnance when discharged" is from 1570s.

re-collect (v.)

"to collect or gather again," c. 1600; see re- "back, again" + collect (v.). Earlier simply "to collect" (1510s). It has its origin in Latin recollectus (see recollect), but now is marked by pronunciation and spelling to distinguish it from recollect in senses that are only partly distinguished. Related: Re-collected; re-collecting.

recollect (v.)

"to recover or recall knowledge of, bring back to the mind or memory," 1550s, from Latin recollectus, past participle of recolligere "to take up again, regain," etymologically "to collect again," from re- "again" (see re-) + colligere "gather" (see collect (v.)). Related: Recollected; recollecting. In form and origin identical with re-collect, but the pronunciation and sense depend upon the noun recollection.

recollection (n.)

1590s, "a gathering together again," from French récollection (14c.) or directly from Medieval Latin recollectionem (nominative recollectio), noun of action from past-participle stem of recolligere "to take up again, regain," etymologically "to collect again," from re- "again" (see re-) + colligere "gather" (see collect (v.)). The meaning "act of recalling to the memory" is from 1680s; in reference to a thing or scene so recalled, from 1781.

recombine (v.)

"combine again, enter into a new combination," 1630s, from re- + combine (v.). Related: Recombined; recombining.

recombinant (adj.)

"formed by recombination," 1942, from recombine + -ant.

recombination (n.)

"an act or instance of recombining," 1791, from re- + combination, or else formed to go with recombine (v.). Specifically in reference to chromosomes by 1923.

recommence (v.)

"begin anew," late 15c., from Old French recommencier "begin again, start afresh" (11c.), from re- "back, again" (see re-) + commencer (see commence). Related: Recommenced; recommencing; recommencement.

recommend (v.)

late 14c., recommenden, "praise, present as worthy; commit (to another) for care or protection," from Medieval Latin recommendare, from Latin re-, here perhaps an intensive prefix, or else from a sense now obscure (see re-), + commendare "commit to one's care, commend" (see commend). Meaning "advise as to action, urge" (that something be done) is from 1746. Related: Recommended; recommending.

recommendation (n.)

early 15c., recommendacion, "action of commending oneself to another" (a sense now obsolete), from Old French recommendation (Modern French recommandation), from Medieval Latin recommendationem (nominative recommendatio), noun of action from past-participle stem of recommendare (see recommend). Meaning "act of representing in a favorable manner, act of recommending (someone or something) as worthy" is from 1570s. Letter of recommendation is from c. 1500.

recommission (v.)

also re-commission, "commission a second time," 1781, in reference to British Navy ships, later of officers, from re- "back, again" + commission (v.). Related: Recommissioned; recommissioning.

recommit (v.)

"to again commit," in any sense (the oldest seems to be parliamentary, "send (a bill, etc.) back to committee"), 1620s, from re- "back, again" + commit (v.). Related: Recommitted; recommitting; recommitment.

recompense (n.)

early 15c., "compensation, payment for a debt or obligation; satisfaction, amends; retribution, punishment," from Medieval Latin recompensa and Old French recompense (13c., related to recompenser "make good, recompense"), from Late Latin recompensare (see recompense (v.)). The notion is "an equivalent or recompense for anything given," especially "reparation or restitution to another for some wrong done to him." Earlier in the same sense is recompensation (late 14c., from Late Latin).

recompense (v.)

c. 1400, recompensen, "to redress, provide as an equivalent," from Old French recompenser (14c.) and directly from Medieval Latin recompensare "to reward, remunerate," from Latin re- "again" (see re-) + compensare "balance out," etymologically "weigh together," from com "with, together" (see com-) + pensare, frequentative of pendere "to hang, cause to hang; weigh; pay" (from PIE root *(s)pen- "to draw, stretch, spin"). For the financial sense of the Latin verb, see pound (n.1).

By early 15c. specifically as "to compensate, pay for services rendered or for loss of property, rights, etc.; make amends for by some equivalent; dispense punishments or rewards." "The spelling -ence is more frequent than the etymological -ense ... until the 19th c." [OED]. Related: Recompensed; recompensing.

recon

military slang shortening; 1918 for reconnaissance (n.); 1966 for reconnoiter (v.).

reconceptualize (v.)

"conceptualize again or anew," 1969, from re- + conceptualize. Related: Reconceptualized; reconceptualizing; reconceptualization.

reconcile (v.)

mid-14c., reconcilen, transitive, in reference to persons, "to restore to union and friendship after estrangement or variance," also of God or Christ, "restore (mankind, sinners) to favor or grace," from Old French reconcilier (12c.) and directly from Latin reconciliare "to bring together again; regain; win over again, conciliate," from re- "again" (see re-) + conciliare "make friendly" (see conciliate).

Reflexive sense of "become reconciled, reconcile oneself" is from late 14c. Meaning "to make (discordant facts or statements) consistent, rid of apparent discrepancies" is from 1550s. Mental sense of "make (actions, facts, conditions, etc.) consistent with each other in one's mind" is from 1620s. Sense of "bring into acquiescence or quiet submission" (with to) is from c. 1600. Related: Reconciled; reconciling.

reconcilable (adj.)

"capable of being reconciled," 1610s of statements; 1620s of persons; from reconcile + -able.

reconciliation (n.)

mid-14c., reconciliacioun, "renewal of friendship after disagreement or enmity, action of reaching accord with an adversary or one estranged" (originally especially of God and sinners), from Old French reconciliacion (14c.) and directly from Latin reconciliationem (nominative reconciliatio) "a re-establishing, a reconciling," noun of action from past-participle stem of reconciliare (see reconcile).

From 1729 as "act of harmonizing or making consistent." Other early noun forms included reconcilement (mid-15c.), reconciling (late 14c.).

recondition (v.)

also re-condition, "restore to a proper or usable condition," 1850, from re- "back, again" + condition (v.). Related: Reconditioned; reconditioning.

recondite (adj.)

1640s, "removed or hidden from view," perhaps via obsolete French recondit, from Latin reconditus, past participle of recondere "store away, hide, conceal, put back again, put up again, lay up," from assimilated form of com- "together" (see com-) + -dere "put" (from PIE root *dhe- "to set, put, place").

The meaning "hidden from mental view, removed from ordinary understanding, profound" is from 1650s; of writers or writings, "little-known, obscure," from 1788. Related: Reconditeness.

reconfigure (v.)

also re-configure, "to configure anew or again," 1964, from re- "back, again" + configure (v.). Related: Reconfigured; reconfiguring; reconfiguration.

recongeal (v.)

also re-congeal, "to congeal anew or again," by 1832, from re- "back, again" + congeal (v.). Related: Recongealed; recongealing.

reconnaissance (n.)

"preliminary examination or survey," specifically "an examination of a territory or enemy position with a view to directing military operations," 1810, a word from the Napoleonic Wars, from French reconnaissance "act of surveying," literally "recognition," from Old French reconoissance "recognition, acknowledgement" (see recognizance).

reconnect (v.)

also re-connect, "to connect again or anew," 1752, from re- "back, again" + connect (v.). Related: Reconnected; reconnecting; reconnection.

reconnoiter (v.)

also reconnoitre, 1707, "make a survey," specifically "to examine a tract or region for military or engineering purposes," from older French reconnoitre (Modern French reconnaître), from Old French reconoistre "to identify" (see recognize). Related: Reconnoitering.

reconquer (v.)

"conquer again, recover by conquest," 1580s, from French reconquerre (12c.), from re- "again, back" (see re-) + conquerre (see conquer). Related: Reconquered; reconquering.

reconquest (n.)

"a second or repeated conquest, a recovery by conquest," 1540s, from French reconqueste (16c., Modern French reconquête), cognate with Spanish reconquista; see re- + conquest.

reconsecrate (v.)

also re-consecrate, "to consecrate anew or again," 1610s; from re- "back, again" + consecrate (v.). Related: Reconsecrated; reconsecrating.

reconsider (v.)

1570s, "consider (a matter) again, turn over in the mind again," a sense now obsolete, from French reconsidérer and probably in part a native formation from re- "back, again" + consider. Meaning "to consider (a decision) a second time with a view to changing it if doing so seems warranted" is by 1849. Related: Reconsidered; reconsidering.

reconsideration (n.)

"act of reconsidering, a second consideration," 1650s, noun of action from reconsider (q.v.).

reconstitute (v.)

"to constitute anew," 1790, from re- "back, again" + constitute (v.). Related: Reconstituted; reconstituting; reconstitution.

reconstruct (v.)

1768, "build anew, build again," from re- "back, again" + construct (v.). Meaning "to restore (something) mentally, construct anew in the mind again" is attested from 1862. Related: Reconstructed; reconstructing.

reconstruction (n.)

1791, "action or process of reconstructing," noun of action to go with reconstruct. In U.S. history, usually with a capital R-, it has been used from 1865 in reference to the process (lasting until about 1870) by which the states which had seceded were restored to the rights and privileges of the Union. It had been used in the U.S. during the American Civil War in reference to the anticipated reconstitution of the Union. Hence, for a time, in American English, reconstructed "altered by Reconstruction" (1865).

recontinue (v.)

"to go on again with (an activity, etc.) that had been discontinued," early 15c., from re- "back, again" + continue (v.). Related: Recontinued; recontinuing.

reconvene (v.)

"to come together again," 1640s, from re- + convene and from Medieval Latin reconvenire. Related: Reconvened; reconvening; reconvention.

reconveyance (n.)

"act of reconveying," especially "act of transferring a title back to a former owner," 1714; see re- + conveyance.

recopy (v.)

also re-copy, "to copy over, copy a second or another time," 1710, from re- "back, again" + copy (v.). Related: Recopied; recopying.

recorder (n.1)

early 15c., recordour, "chief legal officer of a city," whose duty is to register writings or transactions, from Anglo-French recordour (early 14c.), Old French recordeor "witness; storyteller; minstrel," from Medieval Latin recordator, from Latin recordari "remember" (see record (v.)). The meaning "registering apparatus" is from 1873.

record (v.)

c. 1200, recorden, "to repeat, reiterate, recite; rehearse, get by heart" (senses now obsolete), from Old French recorder "tell, relate, repeat, recite, report, make known" (12c.) and directly from Latin recordari "remember, call to mind, think over, be mindful of," from re-, here probably with a sense of "restore" (see re-), + cor (genitive cordis) "heart" (the metaphoric seat of memory, as in learn by heart), from PIE root *kerd- "heart."

The meaning "set down in writing, preserve the memory of by written or other characters, write down for the purpose of preserving evidence of" is by mid-14c. The sense of "put sound (later pictures, etc.) on disks, cylinders, tape, etc." is from 1892. Related: Recorded; recording.

recordation (n.)

late 14c., recordacioun, "faculty of remembering," from Old French recordacion "record, memory" (14c.) and directly from Latin recordationem (nominative recordatio), noun of action from past-participle stem of recordari "to remember, be mindful of" (see record (v.)). The meaning "act or process of committing to writing" is from mid-15c., but might have grown obsolete and been revived or recoined by Bentham c. 1810.

recorder (n.2)

"musical instrument having a long tube with seven holes and a mouthpiece," early 15c. (earlier recordys, mid-14c.), from record (v.) in an archaic sense of "quietly sing or repeat a tune, practice a tune," used mostly of birds. Darwin, writing of birds in "The Descent of Man," says, "The young males continue practising, or as the bird-catchers say, recording, for ten or eleven months."

The musical instrument was known to Shakespeare and Milton ("In perfect phalanx to the Dorian mood/Of flutes and soft recorders," "Paradise Lost"), but the name, and the device, were rarely heard by mid-1800s (it is marked "obsolete" in Century Dictionary, 1895), ousted by the flute, but both enjoyed revival after 1911 as an easy-to-play instrument for musical beginners.

record (n.)

c. 1300, "testimony committed to writing, fact or condition of having been recorded," from Old French record "memory; statement, report," from recorder "to record" (see record (v.)). Also in part from Medieval Latin noun recordum, recorda. Related: Records.

The meaning "a written account of some fact, event, or proceeding for the purpose of preserving the memory of it" is from late 14c., as is the sense of "official document of a government department or municipal office." Hence the meaning "fact or condition of being preserved as knowledge, especially by being put into writing" (late 14c.).

The meaning "disk on which sounds or images have been recorded" is attested from 1878, originally also of Edison's wax cylinders, later extended somewhat to other forms of sound storage. Record-player is attested from 1919; record-album " audio recordings issued as a collection" is by 1936. Earlier it was "an album in which to store Edison cylinders." "The man who owns Blue Amberol Records only, ought to have albums in which to keep them instead of scattering them around or keeping them in old boxes, etc., under the piano or the sofa." [advertisement, Edison Phonograph Monthly, July 1913]. Record-store is attested by 1933; record-shop from 1929.

The meaning "best or highest official achievement in a sport, activity, etc." is by 1883; the verb to go with it might be break (1924) or beat (1884). The sense of "aggregate of known facts in a person's life" is by 1856, American English.

The journalist's phrase on the record is attested from 1900; adverbial phrase off the record "confidentially" is attested from 1906. For the record "for the sake of having the facts known" is by 1930 in congressional testimony. To keep (or set) the record straight is by 1949. The legal phrase matter of record was in Middle English as "matter that has been formally recorded or documented" and "legal issue that can be resolved by existing record."

recordership (n.)

"office of a recorder," 1550s, see recorder (n.1) + -ship.

record-keeping (n.)

also recordkeeping, "the creation and orderly preservation of written accounts of activities, etc.," 1841; see record (n.) + keeping, verbal noun from keep (v.).

recount (v.1)

"to tell, relate in detail," late 15c., also recompt, from Old North French and Anglo-French reconter (12c., Modern French raconter), from Old French re- "again" (see re-) + conter "to relate, reckon" (see count (v.)). Frequent in Caxton. Related: Recounted; recounting.

recount (n.)

also re-count, "a new count, a second or repeated count" (especially in an election), 1855, American English, from re- + count (n.2).

recount (v.2)

also re-count, "to enumerate again, count over," 1764, from re- "again" + count (v.). Related: Recounted; recounting.

recoup (v.)

1620s, in legal language, "to deduct, keep back as a set-off or discount," from French recouper "to cut back" (12c.), from Old French re- "back" (see re-) + couper "to cut," from coup "a blow" (see coup). The sense of "to recompense for loss or expense" is from 1660s; the meaning "return or bring in an amount equal to" is by 1860. Related: Recouped; recouping; recoupment.

recourse (n.)

"act of relying on someone or something," late 14c., recours, from Old French recours (13c.), from Latin recursus "a return, a retreat," literally "a running back, a going back," from past-participle stem of recurrere "run back, return," from re- "back, again" (see re-) + currere "to run" (from PIE root *kers- "to run"). Especially in have recourse (late 14c.) "apply for help, rely on for aid." As the word for the thing applied to for help, by late 15c. Sometimes in Middle English it also was used in an etymological sense of "a returning" from one state or place to another; "a flowing back," but these are obsolete.

recover (v.)

c. 1300, recoveren, "to regain consciousness," also "regain health or strength after sickness, injury, etc.," from Anglo-French rekeverer (13c.), Old French recovrer "come back, return; regain health; procure, get again" (11c.), from Medieval Latin recuperare "to recover" (source of Spanish recobrar, Italian ricoverare; see recuperation).

The sense of "get (anything) back, get or regain possession or control of," literally or figuratively, after it has been lost, is attested from mid-14c. In law, "obtain by judgment or legal proceedings," late 14c. The transitive sense of "restore from sickness, restore (another) to health" is from c. 1600; that of "rescue, save from danger" is from 1610s. Related: Recovered; recovering. To recover arms (1680s) is to bring the piece from the position of "aim" to that of "ready."

re-cover (v.)

"to put a new cover on, cover again or anew," c. 1400, recoveren, from Old French recovrir or formed in English from re- "again" + cover (v.). Related: Re-covered; re-covering. Now marked by pronunciation and spelling to distinguish it from unrelated recover.

recoverable (adj.)

late 15c., "capable of being regained," from Old French recouvrable, from recouvrer, or else a native formation from recover (v.). From 1590s as "capable of being brought back to a former condition;" 1610s as "curable." Related: Recoverability.

recovery (n.)

mid-14c., "a return to health after illness, injury, misfortune, etc.," from Anglo-French recoverie (c. 1300), Old French recovree "remedy, cure, recovery," from past-participle stem of recovrer (see recover).

The meaning "a gaining possession (of property) by legal action" is from early 15c. The general (non-legal) sense of "act or power of regaining or retaking" (something lost or taken away) is by 1530s. That of "act of righting oneself after a blunder, mishap, etc." is from 1520s. The meaning "restoration from a bad to a good condition" is from 1580s.

recreant (adj.)

c. 1300, recreaunt, "confessing oneself to be overcome or vanquished, admitting defeat, surrendering, ready to yield in a fight," also a word of surrender, from Old French recreant "defeated, vanquished, yielding, giving; weak, exhausted; cowardly" (also used as a noun), present-participle adjective from recroire "to yield in a trial by combat, surrender allegiance," literally "believe again;" perhaps on notion of "take back one's pledge, yield one's cause," from re- "again, back" (see re-) + croire "entrust, believe," from Latin credere (see credo).

The extended meaning "cowardly" in English is from late 14c. The meaning "unfaithful to duty" is from 1640s. Middle English also had a verb recreien "to be cowardly, yield in battle" (mid-14c.).

recreant (n.)

"one who yields in combat, one who begs for mercy, one who admits defeat," early 15c., hence "coward, faint-hearted wretch;" from recreant (adj.) and from Old French recreant as a noun, "one who acknowledges defeat, a craven, coward, renegade, traitor, wretch." In English, the sense of "apostate, deserter, villain" is from 1560s.

recreation (n.)

late 14c., recreacioun, "refreshment or curing of a person, refreshment by eating," from Old French recreacion (13c.), from Latin recreationem (nominative recreatio) "recovery from illness," noun of action from past participle stem of recreare "to refresh, restore, make anew, revive, invigorate," from re- "again" (see re-) + creare "create" (from PIE root *ker- (2) "to grow"). Meaning "refresh oneself by some amusement" is first recorded c. 1400.

A verb recreate "to refresh by physical influence after exertion" is attested from 15c. and was used by Lyly, Pope, Steele, and Harriet Martineau, but it did not take, probably to avoid confusion to the eye with the recreate (re-create) that means "create anew." Hence also recreation (re-creation) "a new creation, regeneration" (early 15c.); "act of creating anew" (1520s).

recreate (v.2)

"restore to a good or normal physical condition" after weakness or exhaustion, 1530s, from Latin recreatus, past participle of recreare "to refresh, restore, make anew" (see recreation (n.)). Earlier it meant "refresh or cheer" (late 15c.); the intransitive sense of "refresh oneself" is by 1520s; that of "take recreation" is by 1580s.

recreate (v.1)

also re-create, "to create anew, make again," 1580s, from re- "back, again," here, "repetition of an action," + create. Related: Recreated; recreating.

recreational (adj.)

"of or pertaining to recreation; used for or concerned with recreation," 1650s, from recreation + -al (1). Related: Recreationally. Recreational drug is attested from 1967.

recrement (n.)

"dross, scum, superfluous matter, separated from that which is useful," especially a waste product of an animal or vegetable body, 1590s, from French récrément (mid-16c.) or directly from Latin recrementum, as if from a verb *recernere, from re- (see re-) + cernere "to sift, separate" (from PIE root *krei- "to sieve," thus "discriminate, distinguish"). Related: Recremental (1570s); recrementitious.

recrimination (n.)

"the meeting of an accusation by a counter-accusation," 1610s, from French récrimination, from Medieval Latin recriminationem (nominative recriminatio), noun of action from past participle stem of recriminari "to make charges against" (see recriminate).

recriminate (v.)

"return one accusation with another, charge an accuser with a like crime," c. 1600, from Medieval Latin recriminatus, past participle of recriminari "to make charges against," from Latin re- "back, again" (see re-) + criminari "to accuse," from crimen (genitive criminis) "a charge" (see crime). Related: Recriminated; recriminating.

recriminatory (adj.)

"involving or of the nature of recrimination," by 1778; see recriminate + -ory.

recross (v.)

also re-cross, "pass over again," late 15c., from re- "back, again" + cross (v.). Related: Recrossed; recrossing.

recrudescence (n.)

1707, of wounds, "a becoming raw again, a breaking out afresh," a noun formed in English or French on classical models from stem of Latin recrudescere "re-open" (of wounds), literally "become raw again," from re- "again" (see re-) + crudescere, verb from crudus "raw" (see crude (adj.)), + inchoative suffix -escere. Meaning "revival" is from 1906. Related: Recrudescency (1650s); recrudescent (1726).

recrudesce (v.)

in reference to wounds, also figurative, "become raw and exacerbated again, break out afresh," 1875, probably a back-formation from recrudescence or else from Latin recrudescere "become raw again, break open afresh." Related: Recrudesced; recrudescing.

recruit (v.)

1630s, "to strengthen, reinforce, repair by fresh supplies," from French recruter (17c.), from recrute "a levy, a recruit" (see recruit (n.)). The sense of "to enlist new soldiers" is attested from 1650s, hence "gain new supplies" of anything, for any purpose (by 1660s); specifically of student athletes by 1913. Of troop units or classes, "supply with new men, reinforce," 1770s. Related: Recruited; recruiting.

recruitment (n.)

"act or business of recruiting, act of raising new supplies of men for an army or navy," 1795, from recruit (v.) + -ment. The earlier noun was recruiting (1640s).

recruiter (n.)

"one who recruits" in any sense, 1760s, agent noun from recruit (v.). Earlier "an additional member of parliament" (1690s).

recruit (n.)

"military reinforcement, one of a newly raised body of soldiers or sailors to supply a military deficiency," 1640s, from recruit (v.), replacing earlier recrew, recrue; or from obsolete French recrute, alteration of recreue "a supply," recrue "a levy of troops" (late 16c.). This is a Picardy or Hainault dialect variant of recrue "a levy, a recruit," literally "a new growth," from Old French recreu (12c.), past participle of recreistre "grow or increase again," from re- "again" (see re-) + creistre "to grow," from Latin crescere "to grow" (from PIE root *ker- (2) "to grow").

"The French word first appeared in literary use in gazettes published in Holland, and was disapproved of by French writers in the latter part of the 17th c." [OED]. The French word also is the source of Dutch recruut, German Recrut, Swedish rekryt. The general sense of "one who has newly filled a vacancy in any body or class of persons" also is from 1640s.

recrystallization (n.)

"process of crystallizing again," 1782, from re- "again" + crystallization or else a noun formed to go with recrystallize.

recrystallize (v.)

also re-crystallize, "to crystallize again," 1774, from re- "back, again" + crystallize (v.). Related: Recrystallized; recrystallizing.

rectal (adj.)

"pertaining to or connected with the rectum," 1822, from stem of rectum + -al (1). Related: Rectally.

rectalgia (n.)

see proctalgia.

rectangle (n.)

in geometry, "quadrilateral plane figure having all its angles right and all its opposite sides equal," 1570s, from French rectangle (16c.), from rect-, combining form of Latin rectus "right" (from PIE root *reg- "move in a straight line," with derivatives meaning "to direct in a straight line") + Old French angle (see angle (n.)).

An old name for it was long square (1650s). Late/Medieval Latin rectiangulum meant "a triangle having a right angle," noun use of neuter of rectiangulus "having a right angle." When the adjacent sides are equal, it is a square, but rectangle usually is limited to figures where adjacent sides are unequal.

rectangular (adj.)

"right-angled, having an angle or angles of 90 degrees," 1620s, from French rectangulaire (16c.) or formed in English from Latin stem of rectangle + -ar. Of the competitor adjectives fallen lifeless about this word rectangulous (1610s) is perhaps most to be mourned. Related: Rectangularity.

rectification (n.)

c. 1400, rectificacioun, "a remedying, healing, improvement;" late 15c., "action of setting someone right in conduct or action, the correction of that which is wrong or erroneous;" from Old French rectificacion (14c.) or directly from Late Latin rectificationem (nominative rectificatio), noun of action from past participle stem of rectificare "make right; make straight" (see rectify).