Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913 + 1828)

Page 1198

Receptacular

Rec`ep*tac"u*lar (?), a. [Cf. F. réceptaculaire.] (Bot.) Pertaining to the receptacle, or growing on it; as, the receptacular chaff or scales in the sunflower.

Receptaculum

Rec`ep*tac"u*lum (?), n.; pl. Receptacula (#). [L.] (Anat.) A receptacle; as, the receptaculum of the chyle.

Receptary

Rec"ep*ta*ry (?), a. Generally or popularly admitted or received. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Receptary

Rec"ep*ta*ry, n. That which is received. [Obs.] Receptaries of philosophy." Sir T. Browne.

Receptibility

Re*cep`ti*bil"i*ty (?), n.

1. The quality or state of being receptible; receivableness.

2. A receptible thing. [R.] Glanvill.

Receptible

Re*cep"ti*ble (?), a. [L. receptibilis.] Such as may be received; receivable.

Reception

Re*cep"tion (?), n. [F. réception, L. receptio, fr. recipere, receptum. See Receive.]

1. The act of receiving; receipt; admission; as, the reception of food into the stomach; the reception of a letter; the reception of sensation or ideas; reception of evidence.

2. The state of being received.

3. The act or manner of receiving, esp. of receiving visitors; entertainment; hence, an occasion or ceremony of receiving guests; as, a hearty reception; an elaborate reception.

What reception a poem may find. Goldsmith.

4. Acceptance, as of an opinion or doctrine.

Philosophers who have quitted the popular doctrines of their countries have fallen into as extravagant opinions as even common reception countenanced. Locke.

5. A retaking; a recovery. [Obs.] Bacon.

Receptive

Re*cep"tive (?), a. [Cf. F. réceptif. See Receive.] Having the quality of receiving; able or inclined to take in, absorb, hold, or contain; receiving or containing; as, a receptive mind.

Imaginary space is receptive of all bodies. Glanvill.

Receptiveness

Re*cep"tive*ness, n. The quality of being receptive.

Receptivity

Rec`ep*tiv"i*ty (?), n. [Cf. F. réceptivité.]

1. The state or quality of being receptive.

2. (Kantian Philos.) The power or capacity of receiving impressions, as those of the external senses.

Receptory

Re*cep"to*ry (?; 277), n. [Cf. F. receptorium a place of shelter.] Receptacle. [Obs.] Holland.

Recess

Re*cess" (?), n. [L. recessus, fr. recedere, recessum. See Recede.]

1. A withdrawing or retiring; a moving back; retreat; as, the recess of the tides.

Every degree of ignorance being so far a recess and degradation from rationality. South.

My recess hath given them confidence that I may be conquered. Eikon Basilike.

2. The state of being withdrawn; seclusion; privacy.

In the recess of the jury they are to consider the evidence. Sir M. Hale.

Good verse recess and solitude requires. Dryden.

3. Remission or suspension of business or procedure; intermission, as of a legislative body, court, or school.

The recess of . . . Parliament lasted six weeks. Macaulay.

4. Part of a room formed by the receding of the wall, as an alcove, niche, etc.

A bed which stood in a deep recess. W. Irving.

5. A place of retirement, retreat, secrecy, or seclusion.

Departure from his happy place, our sweet Recess, and only consolation left. Milton.

6. Secret or abstruse part; as, the difficulties and recesses of science. I. Watts.

7. (Bot. & Zoöl.) A sinus.

Recess

Re*cess", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Recessed; p. pr. & vb. n. Recessing.] To make a recess in; as, to recess a wall.

Recess

Re*cess", n. [G.] A decree of the imperial diet of the old German empire. Brande & C.

Recessed

Re*cessed" (?), a.

1. Having a recess or recesses; as, a recessed arch or wall.

2. Withdrawn; secluded. [R.] Comfortably recessed from curious impertinents." Miss Edgeworth. Recessed arch (Arch.), one of a series of arches constructed one within another so as to correspond with splayed jambs of a doorway, or the like.

Recession

Re*ces"sion (?), n. [L. recessio, fr. recedere, recessum. See Recede.] The act of receding or withdrawing, as from a place, a claim, or a demand. South.

Mercy may rejoice upon the recessions of justice. Jer. Taylor.

Recession

Re*ces"sion, n. [Pref. re- + cession.] The act of ceding back; restoration; repeated cession; as, the recession of conquered territory to its former sovereign.

Recessional

Re*ces"sion*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to recession or withdrawal. Recessional hymn, a hymn sung in a procession returning from the choir to the robing room.

Recessive

Re*ces"sive (?), a. Going back; receding.

Rechabite

Re"chab*ite (?), n. (Jewish Hist.) One of the descendants of Jonadab, the son of Rechab, all of whom by his injunction abstained from the use of intoxicating drinks and even from planting the vine. Jer. xxxv. 2-19. Also, in modern times, a member of a certain society of abstainers from alcoholic liquors.

Rechange

Re*change" (?), v. t. & i. To change again, or change back.

Recharge

Re*charge" (?), v. t. & i. [Pref. re- + charge: cf. F. recharger.]

1. To charge or accuse in return.

2. To attack again; to attack anew. Dryden.

Recharter

Re*char"ter (?), n. A second charter; a renewal of a charter. D. Webster.

Recharter

Re*char"ter, v. t. To charter again or anew; to grant a second or another charter to.

Rechase

Re*chase" (?), v. t. [Pref. re- + chase: cf. F. rechasser.] To chase again; to chase or drive back.

Recheat

Re*cheat" (?), n. [F. requ\'88té, fr. requ\'88ter to hunt anew. See Request.] (Sporting) A strain given on the horn to call back the hounds when they have lost track of the game.

Recheat

Re*cheat", v. i. To blow the recheat. Drayton.

Recherché

Re*cher`ché" (?), a. [F.] Sought out with care; choice. Hence: of rare quality, elegance, or attractiveness; peculiar and refined in kind.

Rechless

Rech"less (?), a. Reckless. [Obs.] P. Plowman.

Rechoose

Re*choose" (?), v. t. To choose again.

Recidivate

Re*cid"i*vate (?), v. i. [LL. recidivare. See Recidivous.] To baskslide; to fall again. [Obs.]

Recidivation

Re*cid`i*va"tion (?), n. [LL. recidivatio.] A falling back; a backsliding. Hammond.

Recidivous

Re*cid"i*vous (?), a. [L. ridivus, fr. recidere to fall back.] Tending or liable to backslide or rse to a former condition or habit.

Recipe

Rec"i*pe (?), n.; pl. Recipes (#). [L., imperative of recipere to take back, take in, receive. See Receive.] A formulary or prescription for making some combination, mixture, or preparation of materials; a receipt; especially, a prescription for medicine. <-- now esp. a prescription (set of directions) for preparing food -->

Recipiangle

Re*cip"i*an`gle (?), n. [L. recipere to take + angulus angle.] An instrument with two arms that are pivoted together at one end, and a graduated arc, -- used by military engineers for measuring and laying off angles of fortifications.

Recipience, Recipiency

Re*cip"i*ence (?), Re*cip"i*en*cy (?), n. The quality or state of being recipient; a receiving; reception; receptiveness.
Recipient
Re*cip"i*ent (?), n. [L. recipiens, -entis, receiving, p. pr. of recipere to receive: cf. F. récipient. See Receive.] A receiver; the person or thing that receives; one to whom, or that to which, anything is given or communicated; specifically, the receiver of a still.
Recipient
Re*cip"i*ent, a. Receiving; receptive.
Reciprocal
Re*cip"ro*cal (?), a. [L. reciprocus; of unknown origin.]
1. Recurring in vicissitude; alternate.
2. Done by each to the other; interchanging or interchanged; given and received; due from each to each; mutual; as, reciprocal love; reciprocal duties.
Let our reciprocal vows be remembered. Shak.

3. Mutually interchangeable.
These two rules will render a definition reciprocal with the thing defined. I. Watts.

4. (Gram.) Reflexive; -- applied to pronouns and verbs, but sometimes limited to such pronouns as express mutual action.
5. (Math.) Used to denote different kinds of mutual relation; often with reference to the substitution of reciprocals for given quantities. See the Phrases below. Reciprocal equation (Math.), one which remains unchanged in form when the reciprocal of the unknown quantity is substituted for that quantity. -- Reciprocal figures (Geom.), two figures of the same kind (as triangles, parallelograms, prisms, etc.), so related that two sides of the one form the extremes of a proportion of which the means are the two corresponding sides of the other; in general, two figures so related that the first corresponds in some special way to the second, and the second corresponds in the same way to the first. -- Reciprocal proportion (Math.), a proportion such that, of four terms taken in order, the first has to the second the same ratio which the fourth has to the third, or the first has to the second the same ratio which the reciprocal of the third has to the reciprocal of the fourth. Thus, 2:5: :20:8 form a reciprocal proportion, because 2:5: :1/20:1/8. -- Reciprocal quantities (Math.), any two quantities which produce unity when multiplied together. -- Reciprocal ratio (Math.), the ratio between the reciprocals of two quantities; as, the reciprocal ratio of 4 to 9 is that of ¼ to 1/9. -- Reciprocal terms (Logic), those terms which have the same signification, and, consequently, are convertible, and may be used for each other. Syn. -- Mutual; alternate. -- Reciprocal, Mutual. The distinctive idea of mutual is, that the parties unite by interchange in the same act; as, a mutual covenant; mutual affection, etc. The distinctive idea of reciprocal is, that one party acts by way of return or response to something previously done by the other party; as, a reciprocal kindness; reciprocal reproaches, etc. Love is reciprocal when the previous affection of one party has drawn forth the attachment of the other. To make it mutual in the strictest sense, the two parties should have fallen in love at the same time; but as the result is the same, the two words are here used interchangeably. The ebbing and flowing of the tide is a case where the action is reciprocal, but not mutual.
Reciprocal
Re*cip"ro*cal, n.
1. That which is reciprocal to another thing.
Corruption is a reciprocal to generation. Bacon.

2. (Arith. & Alg.) The quotient arising from dividing unity by any quantity; thus ¼ is the reciprocal of 4; 1/(a + b) is the reciprocal of a + b. The reciprocal of a fraction is the fraction inverted, or the denominator divided by the numerator.
Reciprocality
Re*cip`ro*cal"i*ty (?), n. The quality or condition of being reciprocal; reciprocalness. [R.]
Reciprocally
Re*cip"ro*cal*ly (?), adv.
1. In a reciprocal manner; so that each affects the other, and is equally affected by it; interchangeably; mutually.
These two particles to reciprocally affect each other with the same force. Bentley.

2. (Math.) In the manner of reciprocals. Reciprocally proportional (Arith. & Alg.), proportional, as two variable quantities, so that the one shall have a constant ratio to the reciprocal of the other.
Reciprocalness
Re*cip"ro*cal*ness (?), n. The quality or condition of being reciprocal; mutual return; alternateness.
Reciprocate
Re*cip"ro*cate (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Reciprocated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Reciprocating.] [L. reciprocatus, p. p. of reciprocare. See Reciprocal.] To move forward and backward alternately; to recur in vicissitude; to act interchangeably; to alternate.
One brawny smith the puffing bellows plies, And draws and blows reciprocating air. Dryden.
Reciprocating engine, a steam, air, or gas engine, etc., in which the piston moves back and forth; -- in distinction from a rotary engine, in which the piston travels continuously in one direction in a circular path. -- Reciprocating motion (Mech.), motion alternately backward and forward, or up and down, as of a piston rod.
Reciprocate
Re*cip"ro*cate, v. t. To give and return mutually; to make return for; to give in return; to unterchange; to alternate; as, to reciprocate favors. Cowper.
Reciprocation
Re*cip`ro*ca"tion (?), n. [L. reciprocatio: cf. F. reciprocation.]
1. The act of reciprocating; interchange of acts; a mutual giving and returning; as, the reciprocation of kindness.
2. Alternate recurrence or action; as, the reciprocation of the sea in the flow and ebb of tides. Sir T. Browne.
Reciprocity
Rec`i*proc"i*ty (?), n. [Cf. F. réciprocité. See Reciprocal.]
1. Mutual action and reaction.
2. Reciprocal advantages, obligations, or rights; reciprocation. Reciprocity treaty, ∨ Treaty of reciprocity, a treaty concluded between two countries, conferring equal privileges as regards customs or charges on imports, or in other respects. Syn. -- Reciprocation; interchange; mutuality.
Reciprocornous
Re*cip`ro*cor"nous (?), a. [L. reciprocus returning, reciprocal + cornu horn.] (Zoöl.) Having horns turning backward and then forward, like those of a ram. [R.] Ash.
Reciprocous
Re*cip"ro*cous (?), a. Reciprocal. [Obs.]
Reciprok
Rec"i*prok (?), a. [F. réciproque, L. reciprocus.] Reciprocal. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
Reciproque
Rec"i*proque (?), a. & n. [F. réciproque.] Reciprocal. Bacon.
Recision
Re*ci"sion (?), n. [L. recisio, fr. recidere, recisum, to cut off; pref. re- re- + caedere to cut.] The act of cutting off. Sherwood.
Recital
Re*cit"al (?), n. [From Recite.]
1. The act of reciting; the repetition of the words of another, or of a document; rehearsal; as, the recital of testimony.
2. A telling in detail and due order of the particulars of anything, as of a law, an adventure, or a series of events; narration. Addison.
3. That which is recited; a story; a narration.
4. (Mus.) A vocal or instrumental performance by one person; -- distinguished from concert; as, a song recital; an organ, piano, or violin recital.
5. (Law) The formal statement, or setting forth, of some matter of fact in any deed or writing in order to explain the reasons on which the transaction is founded; the statement of matter in pleading introductory to some positive allegation. Burn. Syn. -- Account; rehearsal; recitation; narration; description; explanation; enumeration; detail; narrative. See Account.
Recitation
Rec`i*ta"tion (?), n. [L. recitatio: cf. F. récitation. See Recite.]
1. The act of reciting; rehearsal; repetition of words or sentences. Hammond.
2. The delivery before an audience of something committed to memory, especially as an elocutionary exhibition; also, that which is so delivered.
3. (Colleges and Schools) The rehearsal of a lesson by pupils before their instructor.
Recitative
Rec`i*ta*tive" (?), n. [It. recitativo, or F. récitatif. See Recite.] (Mus.) A species of musical recitation in which the words are delivered in manner resembling that of ordinary declamation; also, a piece of music intended for such recitation; -- opposed to melisma.
Recitative
Rec`i*ta*tive", a. Of or pertaining to recitation; intended for musical recitation or declamation; in the style or manner of recitative. -- Rec`i*ta*tive"ly, adv.
Recitativo
Rec`i*ta*ti"vo (?), n. [It.] (Mus.) Recitative.
Recite
Re*cite" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Recited; p. pr. & vb. n. Reciting.] [F. réciter, fr. L. recitare, recitatum; pref. re- re- + citare to call or name, to cite. See Cite.]
1. To repeat, as something already prepared, written down, committed to memory, or the like; to deliver from a written or printed document, or from recollection; to rehearse; as, to recite the words of an author, or of a deed or covenant.
2. To tell over; to go over in particulars; to relate; to narrate; as, to recite past events; to recite the particulars of a voyage.
3. To rehearse, as a lesson to an instructor.
4. (Law) To state in or as a recital. See Recital, 5. Syn. -- To rehearse; narrate; relate; recount; describe; recapitulate; detail; number; count.
Recite
Re*cite", v. i. To repeat, pronounce, or rehearse, as before an audience, something prepared or committed to memory; to rehearse a lesson learned.
Recite
Re*cite", n. A recital. [Obs.] Sir W. Temple.
Reciter
Re*cit"er (?), n. One who recites; also, a book of extracts for recitation.
Reck
Reck (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Recked (?) (obs. imp. Roughte); p. pr. & vb. n. Recking.] [AS. reccan, r&emc;can, to care for; akin to OS. r&omac;kian, OHG. ruochan, G. geruhen, Icel. rækja, also to E. reckon, rake an implement. See Rake, and cf. Reckon.]
1. To make account of; to care for; to heed; to regard. [Archaic]
This son of mine not recking danger. Sir P. Sidney.

And may you better reck the rede Than ever did the adviser. Burns.

2. To concern; -- used impersonally. [Poetic]
What recks it them? Milton.