▪ I. recollect, v.1
(riːkəˈlɛkt)
[Orig. ad. L. recollect-, ppl. stem of recolligĕre, f. re- + colligĕre, but in later use apprehended as an Eng. formation from re- 5 a + collect v., and consequently sometimes written re-collect. The earlier pron. was prob. as in v.2, from which it is now distinguished by the vowel of the prefix.
In some senses the distinction between this and v.2 is not clearly maintained, and the pron. may vary accordingly.]
† 1. trans. To collect, gather. Obs.
| 1513 Douglas æneis i. Prol. 99 A lord sa gentle and kynd,..Quhilk..Bukis to recollect, to reid and se, Hes greit delite als euir hed Ptolome. 1608 Shakes. Per. ii. i. 54 How..These Fishers..from their watry empire recollect All that may men approue, or men detect! 1628 tr. Mathieu's Powerfull Favorite 133 Neither the Consuls nor the Prætor gaue their vote at all, but recollected those of the others. 1645 Quarles Sol. Recant. iii. 6 There is a time to recollect and lay Thy treasure up; a time to cast away. 1670 Dumaresque in Evelyn's Mem. (1857) III. 227 It was no wonder if planting was not so much in fashion before you were pleased to recollect that art in a body. |
† b. To collect again. (Cf. 2.) Obs.
| 1607 Topsell Four-f. Beasts 152 The drops disperse the scent of the Hare and the drye weather recollecteth it againe. 1613 W. Browne Brit. Past. i. i, Call backe thy spirits, and recollect againe Thy vagrant wits. 1693 Mem. Cnt. Teckely iii. 32 To recollect once again the Friends he still retained in Hungary. |
2. To collect, gather, or bring together (things or persons) again.
In 17th c. examples it is often difficult to decide whether this or sense 1 is intended.
| 1615 G. Sandys Trav. 168 When broken by the Saracens, the peeces were recollected. 1655 Spurstowe Wels of Salvation 54 How dust scattered and blown up and down should be recollected, was altogether beyond the line of their reason. 1768 H. Walpole Hist. Doubts Pref. 9 Our empire was but forming itself or re-collecting its divided members. 1800 W. Taylor in Monthly Mag. X. 6 When Zerubbabel..was already returned to Jerusalem, to re-collect its scattered inhabitants. 1870 Standard 16 Nov., Since the Crimean war..Russia has been carefully engaged in recruiting her strength and in re-collecting her resources. |
| fig. 1615 Daniel Queen's Arcadia Wks. (1717) 224 There⁓fore let us recollect our selves, Dispers'd into these strange confused Ills. 1650 Fuller Pisgah ii. 67 So Reuben could never after recollect his lost credit, to recover the full favour of his Father. |
| refl. 1642 Lord W. St. Leger in Lismore Papers Ser. ii. (1888) V. 43 That..Army..now will aske some tyme to re⁓collect it self after this vnexpected Discomfiture. 1671 Salmon Syn. Med. i. xxxvii. 86 Flegm, as it is speedily dissipated, so it as speedily recollects it self. 1770 Langhorne Plutarch (1879) I. 408/2 The Achæan cavalry recollecting themselves after their flight, found that Philopœmen was not with them. |
b. intr. To come together again. rare.
| a 1631 Donne Lett., to Lady Bedford (1651) 174 Of this all though many parts decay, The pure, which elemented them,..Shall recollect, and in one all unite. 1855 Mrs. Gatty Parables fr. Nat. Ser. i. (1869) 27 The first thing they attempted, when they had re-collected to consult. |
3. To collect (one's spirits, thoughts, mind, etc.).
| 1614 Raleigh Hist. World v. ii. 329 The enemies..not hauing recollected their Spirits to make it good. 1649 I. Ambrose Media ii. 36 When we call in all our thoughts and affections, and recollect them together. 1705 Stanhope Paraphr. III. 361 As oft as He says Let us pray; They should recollect their wandering Thoughts. 1759 Johnson Rasselas xlv[i], He was timorous and bashful; but, when the talk became regular, he recollected his powers. 1800 Asiat. Ann. Reg., Misc. Tr. 12/2 Upon recollecting his spirits,..he found his affairs very far from being as yet in a desperate condition. |
† b. With impersonal subject. ? Obs.
| 1611 J. Davies Scourge Folly Wks. (Grosart) 56 The heauenly charme that..recollects the mind that cares distract. 1627 E. F. Hist. Edw. II (1680) 16 The injustice of the quarrel which might in time have recollected his senses. 1703 Atterbury Serm. (1737) IV. 112 Darkness and solitude which recollect the thoughts and turn the mind inward. |
4. To gather or summon up (strength, courage, etc.); to rally; to recover by an effort.
| 1655 tr. Com. Hist. Francion v. 1 He determined to keep his Bed for that day, the better to recollect his strength. 1667 Milton P.L. ix. 471 Then soon Fierce hate he recollects, and all his thoughts Of mischief..thus excites. 1760–72 H. Brooke Fool of Qual. (1809) I. 98 Recollecting all my force, and drawing my sword. 1791 Mrs. Radcliffe Rom. Forest (1806) III. xxiii. 279 She..re-collected sufficient resolution to submit. 1886 Stevenson Dr. Jekyll 71 Mr. Utterson's nerves..gave a jerk that nearly threw him from his balance; but he re-collected his courage. |
b. refl. To nerve or brace (oneself).
| 1652 Bp. Hall Invis. World iii. §11 When thou hast re⁓collected thyself to a resolution of defiance and unweariable resistance, cast thine eye upon the deplorable condition of those Damned Souls. |
† 5. To bring back again to or from some position or state; to withdraw (oneself) from. Obs.
| 1620 T. Granger Div. Logike 204 Daily experience..shewes it [Category] to be the most obuious..way to amplifie a..particular sentence..by retracting, or recollecting it to his generall head or fountaine. 1621 Donne Serm. xv. 150, I who can do that, can also recollect you from y{supr} present desperation. 1643 Milton Divorce ii. xxi. Wks. (1847) 155/2 Recollecting himself from an unmeet help which was never meant. 1655 Theophania 32 He recollected himself from that profound trance. |
† b. refl. To bring (oneself) back to a reconsideration or better view of something. Obs.
| 1641 J. Shute Sarah & Hagar (1649) 118 It may be she had in part recollected herself, and did repent of her foolish carriage. 1670 G. H. Hist. Cardinals ii. i. 118 That Pope recollected himself, discover'd his errour. 1696 Phillips (ed. 5), To Recollect a Man's self, to change a Mans mind upon better Consideration. |
6. refl. To bring (oneself) back to a state of composure; to compose, recover (oneself). Also const. from. Now rare.
| 1639 Fuller Holy War iii. xxix. (1840) 170 Nor were his thoughts ever so scattered with any sudden accident, but he could instantly recollect himself. 1653 H. Cogan tr. Pinto's Trav. viii. 23, I was not able to utter a word; howbeit at length recollecting myself a little, I signified [etc.]. 1748 Smollett Rod. Rand. xxxi, They..allowed the Spaniards to recollect themselves from the terror occasioned by the approach of an English fleet. 1798 Geraldina I. 124, I re⁓collected myself after a little, and assumed sufficient composure to finish my dress. 1802 M. Edgeworth Moral T. (1816) I. xviii. 148 His heart beat violently, and he..stopped, to recollect himself. |
| absol. 1740 Richardson Pamela (1824) I. 200 Till I can recollect, I am not pleased with you. |
b. In pass. without expressed agent. ? Obs.
| 1629 Shirley Gratef. Serv. i. i, The duke is re-collected; where's the prince? a 1689 A. Behn Lucky Mistake Novels 1871 II. 266 She gave a great shriek, which frighted Vernole; so both stood, for a while, staring on each other, till both were recollected. 1759 Johnson Rasselas xlii[i], The princess was recollected, and the favourite was abashed. |
† 7. To retrace (one's steps). Obs.—1
| 1698 Fryer E. India & P. 37 The Sand was scalding hot, which made me recollect my steps, and hasten to the Fort. |
Hence recoˈllecting vbl. n.1
| 1613 Day Dyall (1614) vii. 150 A recollecting and gathering of the same matter, whereof our body was first composed. 1880 C. R. Markham Peruv. Bark 255 Besides the first gatherings..there has since been three ‘re-collectings’. |
▪ II. recollect, v.2
(rɛkəˈlɛkt)
[Of the same origin as prec., but now distinguished by the pronunciation (see v.1). In sense 4 prob after F. récolliger.]
1. trans. To call or bring back (something) to one's mind; to recall the knowledge of (a thing, person, etc.); to remember.
Recollect, when distinguished from remember, implies a conscious or express effort of memory to recall something which does not spontaneously rise in the mind.
| 1559 in Strype Ann. Ref. (1709) I. xi. 141 To move her Majesty that she would seriously recollect to memory her Gracious Sister's zeal unto the holy see. 1647 Clarendon Hist. Reb. i. §114 The Treasurer quickly recollected the ground of his perturbation. 1712 Addison Spect. No. 293 ¶7 A famous Grecian General, whose Name I cannot at present recollect. 1781 Cowper Truth 153 Conscious of age, she recollects her youth. 1868 Tennyson Lucretius 35 Perchance We do but recollect the dreams that come Just ere the waking. |
| absol. 1863 Draper Intell. Devel. Europe (1875) II. x. 364 Animals remember, man alone recollects. |
b. With obj. clause, infin., etc.
| 1776 Trial of Nundocomar 26/1 Do you recollect being at Mr. Driver's house some time ago? 1784 Cowper Task v. 335 Recollecting still that he is man, We trust him not too far. 1835 Lytton Rienzi i. v, Recollectest thou not how the noble Boniface himself..was kept in thraldom..? 1860 J. W. Warter Sea-board II. 458, I recollect to have read some⁓where of Sir Thos. More, how [etc.]. |
c. To say upon recollecting. nonce-use.
| 1748 Richardson Clarissa VII. 247 But come, recollected she, how do I know but all is for the best..? |
d. intr. To have a recollection of something.
| 1837 Henderson in Proc. Berw. Nat. Club I. No. 5. 151, I recollect of being shewn..a quagmire. |
† 2. a. To reflect with (oneself). Obs.
| 1697 Potter Antiq. Greece ii. vi. (1715) 257 Glaucus..promis'd to recollect with himself, and if he found anything due, to pay it. 1675 Earl of Essex Lett. (1770) 271, I humbly beseech your lordship to recollect with yourself who should insinuate any such matter. 1719 Waterland Vind. Christ's Div. xvii. Wks. 1823 I. ii. 181 Recollect with yourself, that he is sometimes distinctly and personally invocated. |
b. refl. To recall (oneself) to something temporarily forgotten.
| 1828 Scott F.M. Perth xi, ‘Well, but that was not what I wished of thee just now’, said the Prince, recollecting himself. |
† 3. To recall (a thing) to a person. Obs.
| 1673 Lady's Call. i. v. §37 When the apostle recollects to the Ephesians the wretchedness of their gentile state. 1724 Welton Chr. Faith & Pract. 364 My chief design..has been to recollect to your minds some instances. |
† b. To go over again. Obs. rare—1.
| 1741 Watts Improv. Mind i. vi. §5 The learner..should always recollect and review his lectures, read over some author..upon the same subject. |
4. To concentrate or absorb (the mind, oneself, etc.) in contemplation; spec. in mystical religious use (cf. recollection2 1, recollected ppl. a.2 1).
| 1671 Woodhead St. Teresa i. xxxiv. 241, I took a..Rosarie,..procuring not to recollect my Understanding, though, for my exteriour, I was sufficiently recollected. Ibid. ii. xi. 91 Any kind of vertuous Exercise so recollected them, that they were presently out of themselves. 1862 Goulburn Pers. Relig. ii. xi. (1870) 144 It is wonderfully refreshing thus to recollect the mind. |
Hence recoˈllecting vbl. n.2
| 1669 Woodhead St. Teresa i. xiv. 85 This is a kind of recollecting, and as it were, a shutting up of the powers of the soul within herself. |