▪ I. reˈcount, n.1 rare.
[f. recount v.1, in early use perh. after OF. raconte (Godef.).]
Account, narrative, narration.
| c 1489 Caxton Blanchardyn liii. 204 And for the recounte of their aduenture, they chased Subyon [etc.]. 1582 T. Watson Centurie of Love lx, No Night with sleepe shall close mine eyes at all, Before I make recount of such a debt. a 1635 Naunton Fragm. Reg. (Arb.) 34 In recount of whom I proceed with Sir Philip Sidney. 1905 Daily Chron. 20 July 3/1 We..are not bored by the intolerable recount of flukey rounds. |
▪ II. recount, n.2
(ˈriːkaʊnt, riːˈkaʊnt)
[re- 5 a; cf. recount v.2]
A new count; a second or subsequent enumeration (esp. of votes in an election).
| 1884 Pall Mall G. 22 Nov. 7/2 In reply to the Conservative application for a re-count. 1890 Times 21 Oct. 5/4 The Government Census Bureau has refused to make a recount of the population of New York. |
▪ III. recount, v.1
(rɪˈkaʊnt)
Also β. 5–6 recompte, 6 -coumpte.
[a. ONF. and AF. reconter, recunter (12th c.) f. re- re- + conter to count. Cf. also F. raconter.]
1. trans. To relate or narrate; to tell in detail; to give a full or detailed account of (some fact, event, etc.). Also const. to (a person).
| α 1456 Sir G. Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 7 As is re⁓countit be Sanct Gregore the haly doctour. 1483 Caxton G. de la Tour K iij b, Gladde to here telle and recounte the goodness of them. a 1533 Ld. Berners Huon lxxxiii. 262, I am ashamyd to recounte it. 1599 Nashe Lenten Stuffe 41 To recount ab ouo..howe the Herring first came to be a fish. 1617 Moryson Itin. i. 186 He ceased not to bewaile my misery, and to recount my Tragedy. 1653 H. Cogan tr. Pinto's Trav. ix. 28 He recounted unto me, that he had in all but six thousand men. 1782 F. Burney Cecilia ix. v, Mrs. Hill wept for joy in recounting how well she succeeded. 1809 Malkin Gil Blas vii. ii. ¶2, I recounted..all that had passed..without garbling the facts in any particular. 1858 Doran Crt. Fools 269 The two..fell to recounting to each other many a good story. |
| β c 1477 Caxton Jason 45 b, I shal recompte to yow my lyf and all myn astate. 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 803 With y⊇ which aunswere John Greene returned, recompting the same to king Richarde. 1575 Turberv. Venerie i. 3, I have thought good to recoumpte this historie. |
b. (With plural object.) To relate in order; to enumerate by particulars.
| α 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 428 b/1 Who that coude re⁓counte alle the myracles doon by hym. a 1533 Ld. Berners Huon xxi. 60 Yf I sholde recounte all the aduentures,..it sholde be to longe a processe to show it. 1584 R. Scot Discov. Witchcr. x. ii. (1886) 143 Macrobius recounteth five differences of images. 1667 Milton P.L. vii. 112 To re⁓count Almightie works What words or tongue of Seraph can suffice? 1745 Fielding True Patriot Wks. 1775 IX. 304 To enumerate all those vices which I have already declined recounting. 1816 J. Scott Vis. Paris (ed. 5) 267 These are advantages and gratifications which it makes one almost feverish to recount. 1870 M. D. Conway Earthw. Pilgr. viii. 113 Rites and prayers, recounting to God the items of his magnificence. |
| β 1561 J. Daus tr. Bullinger on Apoc. Pref. (1573) 3 He recompteth most plentifully..all the dolefull destinies of the Church. 1601 Bp. W. Barlow Defence 171 In the articles which the auncient fathers doe recompt. |
† 2. To consider or reflect on; to debate or weigh (with or within oneself). Obs.
| 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 34 They begyn to re⁓count with them selfe what they haue done. 1582 Stanyhurst æneis i. (Arb.) 18 This Iuno fearing, and old broyls bluddye recounting. a 1619 M. Fotherby Atheom. Pref. (1622) 18 To perpend and to recompte within it selfe, that God hath made all his seuerall Creatures. a 1656 Ussher Ann. (1658) 106 Cambyses in a rage..nor re-counting with himself, that [etc.]. |
† b. To go over, examine. Obs.—1
| 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 214 Saynt Crisostom counseyleth the ofte to recount thy conscyence, and to remember..thy..synnes. |
† 3. To regard, consider, or account (a person or thing) as possessing a certain character or quality. Const. as, for, to be, or with simple complement. Obs.
| 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 61 b, Than moost of all recount thy selfe but a wretche and a synner. c 1550 R. Bieston Bayte Fortune A iv b, Thy wordes as Iapes ought wel to be recompted. 1577 Hanmer Anc. Eccl. Hist. (1619) 145 There were some..recounted for sacrificers. 1581 J. Bell Haddon's Answ. Osor. 330 Recomptyng murther to be a more tollerable offence. 1609 Bible (Douay) Dan. Comm., Recounting him also the most renowmed of his time for wisdom. a 1661 Fuller Worthies (1840) II. 467 Sir William Paston..is justly recounted a public benefactor. |
† b. To reckon or mention among or in (a class). Obs.
| 1560 Becon New Catech. v. Wks. I. 433 b, So many as..desired to be recompted among the Christians. 1577 B. Googe Heresbach's Husb. ii. 94 b, Among Nuttes, is also to be recounted the Hasel Nuttes. a 1648 Ld. Herbert Hen. VIII (1683) 450 Learned men, in which number Hugh Latimer..and Nicholas Saxton..are recounted. |
† 4. intr. and trans. To reckon, count up. Obs.
| 1547 Boorde Introd. Knowl. i. (1870) 124 Whan they haue recounted to a hondred, they saye Kans. And if they nomber to a thousand, than they saye Myle. a 1641 Bp. R. Montagu Acts & Mon. (1642) 256 Iosephus, recounting up his [Herod's] many wives..hath this excuse for it. 1647 Trapp Comm. 1 Pet. v. 9 He will recount from the bloud of righteous Abel..to the bloud of mean Ignatius. |
Hence reˈcounting vbl. n.1
| a 1529 Skelton Col. Cloute 1104 But my recountyng is of them that do amys. 1581 Mulcaster Positions iii. (1887) 13 If controversie arise, and be worth the recounting, the matter shall not sleepe. a 1610 Healey Epictetus (1636) 73 The re⁓counting of thy fortunes is nothing so pleasing unto others. |
▪ IV. recount, v.2
(riːˈkaʊnt)
[re- 5 a.]
trans. To count or reckon over again.
| 1764 Goldsm. Trav. 52 As some lone miser..Bends at his treasure, counts, recounts it o'er. 1838 Dickens O. Twist xxvii, Mr. Bumble had re-counted the tea-spoons, re-weighed the sugar-tongs, [etc.]. 1877 Lowell Night-Watches 2 While the slow clock, as they were miser's gold, Counts and re⁓counts the mornward steps of Time. |
Hence reˈcounting vbl. n.2
| 1892 Daily News 23 Mar. 2/1 The vote being taken first by show of hands and afterwards by a recounting of members standing up. |
▪ V. † recount, v.3
Freq. in Caxton for recounter.
| c 1489 Caxton Sonnes of Aymon i. 52 There they recounted the duke Beues. Ibid. 344 etc. 1490 ― Eneydos 29 b, Thus rennynge aboute she recounted Eneas. |