▪ I. recover, n.
(rɪˈkʌvə(r))
Also 4–6 recouer(e, recovere, 5 rekouere. See also recour n.
[Orig. (senses 1–3) a. OF. recovre (recouvre, etc.), f. recovrer recover v.1; cf. Sp. recobro, It. ricovero. In later use directly from the vb.]
† 1. Recovery, or means of recovery, from misfortune, trouble, illness, error, etc. Obs.
| 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 7107 What ys loue vnto men pore [read povere], Almes to hem ys recouere. c 1330 ― Chron. (1810) 282 After þat day Scotlond may haf gode recouere. 1387–8 T. Usk Test. Love i. i. (Skeat) I. 45 With⁓out recouer endelesse here to endure. c 1450 Merlin 332 The grete knowinge and witte of Merlin, in whom was all the recouer. 1555 Card. Pole Let. to Cranmer in Strype Mem. Cranmer (1694) App. 212 If I now, that desire your recover, should go about..to bryng yow from your errour to the truth. 1631 Chettle Hoffman H 3 b, The Princes head being split against a Rocke Past all recouer. |
† 2. a. Recovery (of something lost). Obs.
| 1471 Arriv. Edw. IV (Camden) 39 The reentrie and perfect recover of the iuste title and right of owr sayd soueraygne Lord. 1503 Hawes Examp. Virtue v. 17 A thynge lost without recouer. 1533 Bellenden Livy ii. xxiii. (S.T.S.) I. 226 Þe small pepil rais in grete Ire.., & said thare liberte was endit but recovir. |
† b. Recovery (of a debt or sum due). Obs.
| 1488 in Somerset Medieval Wills (1901) 274 To my lord Dawbeney 10li. of the money due unto me..if he help to the rekouere of the same. 1502 in Arnolde Chron. (1811) 104 Any other thinge..that may lette..the said aturnais or ani of them of the recouer or recait of the said C. lī. |
† 3. Law. = recovery 4. Obs.
| 1447 Rolls of Parlt. V. 130/2 Atte the tyme of the pursuyt of the Writte, wheruppon the recovere especified in the saide Petition was hadde. 1504–5 in Plumpton Corr. (Camden) 195 That all former recovers and other tytles, which your adversaryes hath against you and your heires, may be voyded. 1523 Fitzherb. Surv. xviii. 33 The tenant..cometh nat in by the lorde, but by force of the recouere. |
4. The act of bringing or coming back to a former position: a. Mil. (chiefly in phr. at, on, or to the recover). A position of the fire-arm forming part of the manual exercise: see recover v. 12 a.
| 1799 Instr. & Reg. Cavalry (1813) 270 The advanced line of skirmishers are to have their pistols or carbines at the recover. 1809 Wellington in Gurw. Desp. (1837) IV. 446 Private O― J― having loaded his piece, had it on the recover, when he turned round and saw him. 1847 Infantry Man. (1854) 112 Bring the firelock to the recover. 1915 Kipling New Army in Training ii. 10 The squads at bayonet-practice had their balance, drive, and recover already. |
b. In general use, in various contexts. Also fig.
| 1818 ‘T. Brown’ Brighton III. ii. 123 ‘I hold it that a prime coachman's a better fellow than a paltry—’ peer he was going to say, but he knew how to pull up to a hair; so, making a recover, he added—‘man of fortune’. 1819 Metropolis II. 45 ‘Oh! I know their tricks’ (making a recover)—‘that is to say, I have heard of them’. 1852 Thackeray Esmond iii. ii, She..swept a low curtsey, coming up to the recover with the prettiest little foot in the world pointed out. 1888 Century Mag. Jan. 449/1 All being done with a quick thrust and recover that does not burn one's finger. |
▪ II. recover, v.1
(rɪˈkʌvə(r))
Forms: α. 4–5 recou-, recoveren, 4–7 recouere, (4 -coure, -coeure, -covri, 5 -couyre), 4–7 recouer, (4 -cuuer, 5 -kouer, 6 -couir, -couuer), 4– recover. (See also recour v.) β. 4 rekever, (reck-), -ere, 4–5 -keuere, 5 -keuer; 4 -keouer, -kyuer, 5 -kiver.
[ad. AF. recoverer (Britton), rekeverer (1292–3), OF. recov(e)rer, -couvrer, -coevrer, etc. = Sp. recobrar, It. ricoverare:—L. recuperāre to recuperate. Cf. cover v.2]
I. trans.
1. a. To get († occasionally, to take) back again into one's hands or possession; to regain possession of (something lost or taken away).
| 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xix. 239 He tauȝte..some to ryde and to recoeure [v.r. rekeuere], that vnriȝtfully was wonne. c 1400 Destr. Troy 10369 The troiens with tene trauailed full sore..The corse to Recouer, & kary to toune. 1484 Caxton Fables of Alfonce ii, I shalle counceylle the how thou shalt recouere thy syluer. 1530 Palsgr. 681/2 This thing is recovred by strength of hande, but it was almost gone. 1560 Bible (Genev.) Hos. ii. 9, I..wil recouer my woll and my flaxe lent, to couer her shame. 1647 Evelyn Diary 22 May, My valet..robb'd me of cloths and plate to the value of threescore pounds, but..I recover'd most of them. 1770 Foote Lame Lover iii. Wks. 1799 II. 93 The recovering my paternal possessions makes me anxious inded. 1857 Maurice Ep. St. John ix. 141 They would stir up endless rebellions, in the hope of recovering what they had lost. 1871 Morley Voltaire (1886) 5 Humanity had lost its title-deeds, and he had recovered them. |
b. To regain (country, territory, etc.) by conquest or main force; to win back (ground lost in fighting).
| c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xxxiii. (George) 904 Quhen cristine men tuk on hande to recouer þe haly lande. 1382 Wyclif 2 Macc. ii. 23 Thei vengeden al the cuntree..and rekyuerden the most famous temple in al the world. c 1450 Merlin 654 Than com all the bretouns oute of the wode, and haue recouered the felde. 1513–4 Act 5 Hen. VIII, c. 1 Preamble, The Kyng..desiring to recover the Royalme of Fraunce his very true patrimonye. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 34 b, They recovered of the frenchmen Parma and Placence. 1678 Wanley Wond. Lit. World v. ii. §15. 469/2 Justinian, recovered Africk from the Vandals by Belisarius. 1769 Robertson Chas. V, vii. III. 8 He..gave the enemy an opportunity of recovering..all the conquests which he had gained. 1841 Lane Arab. Nts. I. 117 Having by this means recovered the kingdom. 1861 M. Pattison Ess. (1889) I. 35 To annex to them those districts..which he could recover for the empire. |
c. To get back, regain (some non-material thing which may be spoken of as lost or taken away).
| c 1384 Chaucer H. Fame iii. 168 For tyme y-lost..Be no way may recoverd be. 1390 Gower Conf. III. 155 He wiste wel his pours was povere, Bot yit he thoght his riht recovere. c 1420 Lydg. Assembly of Gods 1212 Furst..Baptym go ye to. For by hym sonnest shull ye recouer grace. 1532 Sir J. Russel in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. ii. I. 302 To do your Highnes service, and to helpe you to recouver your right. a 1656 Bp. Hall Rem. Wks. (1660) 106 How unquiet are we..till we have recovered his lost favour. 1769 Junius Lett. xxxv. 167 The affections of your subjects may still be recovered. 1791 Cowper Yardley Oak 48 Unrecorded facts Recovering, and misstated setting right. 1847 James Convict i, I must study hard to recover lost time. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) III. 694 He recovered the meaning of the several names and re-translated them. |
d. To find again, come upon a second time.
| 1611 Cotgr., Relancer vn lievre, to recouer her, or put her off the squat. 1856 ‘Stonehenge’ Brit. Sports 141/1 In that direction [he] will generally succeed in recovering the scent. Most hares..will generally be easily recovered by a cast in the direction of their home. 1888 Times 10 Oct. 5/5 When they are at fault,..they will make their own casts and recover the track. |
e. To reclaim (land) from the sea.
| a 1793 Elstobb Bedford Level (1793) 274 The Romans..being at the pains of recovering them [marshes] from the sea. 1846 M{supc}Culloch Acc. Brit. Empire (1854) I. 20 On the south it is low, Sunk Island and some other considerable tracts having been recovered from the sea. |
f. To remove (certain substances) from industrial waste in order that they may be reused.
| 1906 R. W. Sindall Paper Technol. iv. 37 About 75 to 85 per cent. of the soda used in the treatment of esparto can be recovered. 1929 Clapperton & Henderson Mod. Paper-Making xxii. 315 In almost all mills a large quantity of fibre and clay may be recovered from the back waters of the machines. 1929 Industr. & Engin. Chem. May 446 (caption) Air filters recover dust from gyratory crushers... This dust is sold as agricultural limestone. 1941 Coke & Smokeless-Fuel Age III. 285/1 All coke producers are required to recover benzole from their gas. 1969 D. Stewart Paper 33 The caustic soda is recovered in the following way. |
2. To regain, acquire again, resume, return to: a. a quality, state, or condition.
| ? a 1366 Chaucer Rom. Rose 57 These wodes eek recoveren grene, That drie in wynter ben to sene. 1390 Gower Conf. II. 137 He schal Recovere his ferste astat ayein. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 10 b, He wolde haue fedde therof: and so a recouered his immortalite that he had lost. 1661 Boyle Orig. Formes & Qual. 172 The Lead..will not of it self recover its Sphæricity. 1706 London & Wise Retir'd Gard. I. xiv. 182 By putting them to the Roots [I] have found that the Leaves have recover'd their Greenness. 1784 Cowper Task i. 441 His cheek recovers soon its healthful hue. 1820 Shelley Œd. Tyr. ii. ii. 30 Perhaps I may recover my lost appetite. 1858 Froude Hist. Eng. xviii. IV. 33 With the assistance of the bishops..they recovered an absolute superiority. |
b. esp. health or strength.
| c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 1837 Þen was Coryneus aschamed..He recouered his strengþe for tene. 1390 Gower Conf. III. 150 Hou that hir lord of his seknesse..Recovere myhte his hele ayein. 1477 Earl Rivers (Caxton) Dictes 126 A seke man desireth not to departe from his phisicien till he hath recouerid his helth. 1555 Eden Decades 53 They..sumewhat recouered theyr strengthes muche weakened for lacke of meate. 1594 Shakes. Rich. III, i. iii. 2 Ther's no doubt his Maiesty will soone recouer his accustom'd health. a 1691 Boyle Hist. Air (1692) 242 Sick and valetudinary persons used to be sent thither to recover their health. 1841 Lane Arab. Nts. I. 112 Had it not been for this, I had recovered my strength. 1849 Helps Friends in C. (1851) II. 3, I had by this time recovered my usual health. |
c. a faculty of body or mind, or the use of this; also, to recover one's feet or legs (cf. leg n. 2 f).
| 14.. in Tundale's Vis. (1843) 89 Thys Paynym knyght Only of grace hath recoverd his syght. 1593 Shakes. Rich. II, v. iii. 47 What is the matter..speak, recouer breath. 1596 Spenser F.Q. vi. viii. 17 The Prince to him full nimbly stept And least he should recover foote againe [etc.]. 1617 Hieron Wks. (1634) II. 243 It was in his sleepe; but, when he awoke, he recouered his thoughts. 1667 Milton P.L. iv. 357 Satan..at length faild speech recoverd sad. Ibid. x. 966 To whom thus Eve, recovering heart, repli'd. 1725 De Foe Voy. round World (1840) 287 He could hardly speak; but, recovering his breath, said [etc.]. 1749 Fielding Tom Jones xii. xi, Partridge had no sooner recovered his Legs, than [etc.]. 1833 H. Martineau Vanderput & S. i. 19 When he recovered his voice, the pastor turned his attention [etc.]. 1847 Marryat Childr. N. Forest xiv, They worked another half-hour, when they stopped to recover their wind. |
3. a. To get back, or find again (one who has been lost or absent). rare—1.
| c 1381 Chaucer Parl. Foules 688 Wele han they cause forto gladen ofte Sethe ech of hem recouerede hathe hys make. |
b. To bring, draw, or win back (a person) to friendship or willing obedience; to reconcile.
| 1576 Fleming Panopl. Epist. 234 Trie not to recouer them, whome you would haue come vnto you in haste, with threatning. 1582 N. Lichefield tr. Castanheda's Conq. E. Ind. i. lxiv. 131 Although thou doest loose them, and all the rest of thy subiectes, yet thou doest recouer me. 1604 Shakes. Oth. ii. iii. 273 What man, there are more wayes to recouer the Generall againe. a 1674 Clarendon Hist. Reb. xvi. §132 They were not willing to despair of recovering their general again to them; and..sent a committee to treat with him. 1797 Burke Regic. Peace iii. Wks. VIII. 293 It was expected, that he would have..endeavoured to recover those whom their fears had led astray. 1869 Freeman Norm. Conq. (1876) III. xi. 59 Harold's way of recovering rebels differed widely from William's. |
c. To recapture, get hold of (an escaped person) again. rare.
| 1585 T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. i. vii, [There] came running diuers other Turkes to recouer him. 1606 G. W[oodcocke] Lives in Hist. Ivstine K k iij, The people..recouering Michaell in his flight, put out his eyes. |
† 4. To get in place of, or in return for, something else. Obs.
| c 1374 Chaucer Troylus iii. 132 (181) For every wo ye shall recover a blisse. Ibid. iv. 378 (406) If she be lost, we shul recovere another. 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. I. 687 If ye do [refuse it], I thynk it wyll be longe or ye recover agayne suche another offre. 1525 Ibid. II. 416 If ye have fayled of the duke of Lancasters doughter, ye maye recover another, as great and as good as she is. |
5. Law. a. To get back or gain by judgement in a court of law; to obtain possession of, or a right to, by legal process.
| c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 320 Ȝif þei kittide þus openly here purses, þei schulden reckevere it bi comyn lawe. 1444 Rolls of Parlt. V. 115/2 He that wil sue..shall have the suyte to recovere to hym self the oon half therof, and the Kyng that other half. 1447 Ibid. 130/1 Divers Landes and Tenementz, late were recovered, evict and hadde, fro the possession of the Hous of the holy Trinite. 1516 Test Ebor. (Surtees) VI. 2 Whereas the Lorde Willuthby [etc.].. recovered all my manors, landes and tenements agaynst me [etc.]. 1542 Udall Erasm. Apoph. 100 He was assured to recouer of Midias so much money for a forfaicte. 1607 Cowell Interpr. s.v. Recovery, The third man commeth not: whereupon the land is recouered by him that brought the writ. 1710 Prideaux Orig. Tithes iv. 167 This Law..enabled the Clergy to gather and recover Tithes. 1768 Blackstone Comm. III. 59 All trivial debts..were to be recovered..in every man's own county. 1817 W. Selwyn Law Nisi Prius (ed. 4) II. 737 It was holden, that the plaintiff..was entitled to recover the value of the goods. 1891 Law Times Rep. LXIII. 690/2 This was an action to recover damages for false imprisonment. |
b. To have (a judgement or verdict) given in one's favour.
| 1768 Blackstone Comm. III. 404 A defendant, against whom judgment is recovered. 1798 Bay Amer. Law Rep. (1809) I. 49 Plaintiff had recovered a verdict for {pstlg}230. |
6. † a. To get or obtain; to get hold of. Obs.
| 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xviii. liii, The amptes gadre grete burthens whych ben more greter than ther owne bodyes: And so they recouer rewarde of lytylnesse of body in y⊇ gretnesse of vertue. c 1477 Caxton Jason 70 Considering..the right hye gladnesse that they hadde recouured. a 1533 Ld. Berners Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546) P iij b, The more a man recouereth here renoume among straungers, the more he is persecuted with enuye. 1585 T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. i. xx. 25 b, He found meanes to recouer a barke, intoo the which he and his men got. 1614 Raleigh Hist. World ii. (1634) 306 Having beheld the most beautifull and lively among them that he might recover them for his owne use and delights. a 1661 Fuller Worthies (1840) III. 542 At the ebb thereof you may easily recover a pail or bucket full. |
† b. To get opportunity for, to give or succeed in giving (another stroke or blow). Obs. rare.
| c 1450 Merlin 342 Arthur hym smote so harde..that he bowed on his horse nekke, and ȝef he myght haue recovered a-nother stroke he hadde fallen of his horse to the erthe. Ibid. 391 Whan Pounce wolde have recovered a-nother stroke [etc.]. 1677 Moxon Mech. Exerc. No. i. 16 When you draw your file back, to recover an other thrust. 1678 Ibid. No. 6. 99 The Saw having run its length, is lifted gently over the Stuff to recover another stroak of the Saw. |
† c. To reach or attain to (a state). Obs. rare.
| 1575 Turberv. Faulconrie 130 When she is cast off, and beginneth to recouer her gate. 1576 Fleming Panopl. Epist. A ij, All things when they haue recouered perfection..cannot but then be most acceptable. |
d. To get (the wind of one). Obs. exc. arch.
| 1602 Shakes. Ham. iii. ii. 371 Why do you go about to recouer the winde of mee? a 1618 Raleigh Inv. Shipping 30 These hoyes, who will easily recover the wind of any other ships. 1855 Kingsley Westw. Ho! xx, She is a race ship, and if we can but recover the wind of her [etc.]. |
7. a. To get to, reach, arrive at, gain (some place or point). Now rare. (Common in 16–17th cents.)
| c 1350 Will. Palerne 2801 Go we on oure gate..to recuuer sum resset þere we vs rest miȝt. 1512 W. Knight in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. ii. I. 195 With..long tribulacion we recovred the saide Porte of Saincte Sebastian. 1585 T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. ii. i. 31 b, The sea which so furiously casteth against Malee, is such that without great labour..she is not to be recouered or surmounted. 1603 Knolles Hist. Turks (1621) 39 At length having recovered the top of an hill,..they there staied, and presently encamped themselves. 1677 W. Hubbard Narrative i. (1865) 121 He kept his Horse till he recovered the next garrison House. 1793 Smeaton Edystone L. §226 After labouring at our oars for an hour and an half more, we recovered the buss. 1822 Scott Pirate xxxi, Without a pocket-compass..I should never have recovered the Fair Isle, for which we run. |
| transf. 1614 Raleigh Hist. World Pref. 3 Pharaoh slew the Infants of Israel, ere they had recovered their Cradles. |
† b. To make for, betake oneself to (a place of defence). Obs.
| c 1500 Melusine 252 Philibert was thenne descended from his hors,..and recouered the montayne aboue the pathe. 1600 Holland Livy iv. xxxix. 164 Both armies as taking themselves loosers, recovered the mountaines that were next unto them. 1604 E. Grimstone Hist. Siege Ostend 14 The Souldiers were forced to recouer the..sande downes. |
† c. To get back to or into, to return to. Obs.
In some cases perh. only a contextual use of 7.
| c 1430 Syr Gener. (Roxb.) 3824 Abel ashamed began to be, And recouered his sadil hastilie. 1513 Douglas æneis vi. ii. 107 Tharfra to return agane on hycht, And heir abufe recovir this airis lycht, That is difficill werk. 1549 in Strype Eccl. Mem. (1721) II. App. DD. 104 They turned their backs and recovered the town which they before had fortified for al events. 1618 Bolton Florus iv. x. (1636) 310 That..they should march back, and recover the mountaines. 1675 Nevile tr. Machiavelli's Life Castr. Castracani Wks. 248 The Florentines..recovered the bank, and..searched for a better place. |
† d. To journey, travel, cover. Obs.—1
| a 1625 Fletcher Noble Gent. i. i, I shall recover twenty miles this night. |
† e. To remove, transfer. Obs.—1
| 1719 London & Wise Compl. Gard. 103 We must there⁓fore disburthen its Head, proportionable to the strength and activity we take from it by recovering it to a new place, and retrenching some of its Roots. |
8. a. To get back for another; to bring back, restore. Const. to (or unto, † rarely into) a person, country, etc.
| 1484 Caxton Fables of Alfonce i, [His friend] sente for phisycyens or leches..for to recouere his helthe. 1550 Veron Godly Sayings (1846) 16 The body and bloud of our Lorde..have recovered unto mankynde, the love and favour of God. 1647 Clarendon Hist. Reb. vi. §98 This little rest had recovered a strange cheerfulness into all men. 1671 Milton Samson 1098 So had the glory of Prowess been recover'd To Palestine. 1732 Law Serious C. xviii. (ed. 2) 326 Education should be consider'd.. as the art of recovering to man the use of his reason. 1774 Cullen Lett. to Ld. Cathcart (1776) 12 For recovering the heat of the body, it has been proposed, to cover it all over with warm grains. 1851 Hussey Papal Power iii. 115 The Council thus proposed to restore the Pope to his former condition, by recovering to him all the patrimony [etc.]. |
b. To bring back, recall (to memory). rare.
| 1602 B. Jonson Poetaster iii. i. D3, Did you neuer heare any of my verses? Horace. No, Sir; but I am in some feare, I must, now. Crisp. Ile tell thee some (if I can but recouer 'hem). 1673 Marvell Reh. Transp. II. 320 If he saw what you write, it would recover to his memory his fighting with beasts at Ephesus. 1677 Miége Fr. Dict. ii. s.v. 1957 L. Durrell Justine iv. 233 It is strange when everything about Alexandria is so vivid that I can recover so little of that lost period. |
9. a. To restore or bring back (usu. a person) to life or consciousness.
| c 1400 Cursor M. 28848 (Cott. Galba) It recouers thurgh grace ogayne al gude werkes þat with syn war slayne. 1600 Shakes. A.Y.L. iv. iii. 151 And now he fainted..Briefe, I recouered him. 1607 Peele's Jests (c 1620) 14 She fell into a counterfeit swoone, whom the Gentleman soone recouered. 1675 Evelyn Diary 22 Mar., Sir William..was grown famous..for his recovering a poor wench that had ben hanged for felony. 1706 E. Ward Wooden World Diss. (1708) 101 This effectually recovers him, and makes him as sober as a Bishop. 1798 Invasion I. xxiv. 179 Raising her up, he tried by gentler words to recover her. 1841 J. T. J. Hewlett Parish Clerk I. 153 The squire suddenly recovered her by calling for..a bucket of water. |
b. To restore (a person or animal) to health or strength; to cure, heal.
| 1601 Shakes. All's Well iii. ii. 22 Shee hath recouered the King, and vndone me. a 1614 Donne βιαθανατος (1644) 117 He that is as sure that this Medicine will recover him, as that this Poyson will destroy him [etc.]. 1681 tr. Belon's Myst. Physick 43 Some Persons..have had occasion to use longer than ordinarily this Remedy before they could be perfectly recovered. 1799 J. Robertson Agric. Perth 555 When this happens to be the case, there is little hope of recovering the horse. 1816 Jane Austen Emma III. iii. 39 A young lady who faints, must be recovered. 1940 W. Faulkner Hamlet iii. i. 179 This legal dollar which would be little enough compensation, not for the time he had spent recovering the cow. 1967 Listener 7 Sept. 302/3 Well, I think Mr Wilson would put one well on the way to convalescence, and the Queen would recover one completely. |
c. Const. † of or from (the disease or disorder).
| 1389 in Eng. Gilds (1870) 5 He schal haue, of þe comune box, xiiijd, terme of his lyf, but he be recouered of hys mischief. 1606 G. W[oodcocke] Lives Emperors in Hist. Ivstine G g iij, Hee fell madde, of which he was aftirward recoured. 1665 Evelyn Diary 5 July, I tooke order for 150 men, who had ben recovered of their wounds [etc.]. 1707 Freind Peterborow's Cond. Sp. 198 A few days rest, good Diet, and Encouragement, soon recover the Souldier of any fatigue. 1808 E. Sleath Bristol Heiress II. 93 A person..who had already recovered Veney from a similar accident. 1836 Marryat Japhet lxi, He..recovered her from an imminent and painful disease. |
d. Const. to or into (health, life, etc.).
| 1594 Drayton Idea 853 From Death to Life, thou mights't him yet recover. 1654 R. Codrington tr. Justine xx. 289 The Crotonians being recovered to their health, were no longer quiet. 1724 Swift Drapier's Lett. Wks. 1755 V. ii. 72 Any more than a dead carcase can be recovered to life by a cordial. 1747 W. Horsley Fool (1748) II. 271 It is what I always first prescribe to recover great Wits into their right Senses. 1793 Minstrel I. 210 She hurried back to the cottage, where she found that Philip had been recovered to sensation. |
e. In passive, to be recovered: to have got better, to be well again. (Cf. 18.)
| 13.. Sir Beues (MS. A.) 2854 Whan ouer-gon was his smerte And [he] rekeured was of is herte Sir Beues set him vp. 1423 Hen. VI in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. ii. I. 100 And as towardes oure bel Uncle of Excestre, whom oure Lord now late visitid with seknesse,..he is rekiveryd. a 1440 Sir Eglam. 953 Syr Egyllamowre was hole and sounde, And wele recovryd on hys wounde. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 280 He commeth there fore to Ulme, whan he was not yet recovered. 1648 Hamilton Papers (Camden) 239 Mr. Murray..fell sick; whether he be recovered and gone or not your Lp knowes best. 1733 Swift Let. 8 Jan., Wks. 1841 II. 694/1 The friend I named, who I was afraid would die, is recovered. 1765 Reid Wks. I. 43/1, I hope your papa is quite recovered of his cold. 1829 J. Jekyll Corr. (1894) 200 Lady Conyngham has had a bad illness, but is recovered. |
† 10. To restore (a person or thing) to a good or proper estate or condition; to set or make right again. Obs.
In quot. c 1460 due to a misreading of the Fr. original.
| c 1374 Chaucer Troylus i. 327 (383) To hide his desir yn muwe From euery wyght..But he myght ought recouered be þerby. 1388 Wyclif Ecclus. ii. 6 Bileue thou to God and he schal rekeuere thee. c 1460 Sir R. Ros La Belle Dame 614 There is no Iuge y-sette of suche trespace by which of right one may recouered be. 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. I. xc. 112 He wolde neuer rest tyll he had so arayed the realme of Scotlande, that it shulde neuer be recouered. 1586 Leicester Corr. (Camden) 217 God doth knowe what..a ioyfull countreie here was within this month; God send her majestie to recover it soe againe. 1660 Boyle New Exp. Phys. Mech. xiii. 86 The Fire was got out for good and all, and past the possibility of being recover'd by the re⁓admitted Air. 1706 London & Wise Retir'd Gard. I. ii. ii. 110 To recover Trees so damnify'd, we perform the following Operation. 1731 P. Shaw Ess. Artif. Philos. 126 The Still-Bottoms of Melasses are successfully used to scald and recover musty Casks. |
11. † a. To rescue or deliver (a person). Obs.
| c 1430 Agincourt 186 in Hazl. E.P.P. II. 101 Of truse we wyll beseche the, Vntyll that it be sunday noone, And yf we may not recouered be We will delyuer the towne. 1637 Winthrop New Eng. (1824) I. 244 He fell into the water, near the shore, where it was not six feet deep, and could not be recovered. 1653 H. Cogan tr. Pinto's Trav. xxii. 78, I promised..never to part from hence, till by some means or other I have recovered these poor soldiers my companions. 1686 tr. Chardin's Trav. Persia 152 Having agreed with my comrade what ways I would take to recover him out of Mingrelia. |
b. To bring back, rescue, reclaim from or out of a state, etc.
| 1614 Camden Rem. (ed. 2) 335, I will onely recouer from obliuion these made vpon the pictures [etc.]. 1635 Earl of Strafford Lett. (1735) I. 473 To recover them forth of that Superstition and Barbarism which hath hitherto been the reproach almost of the English. 1692 Locke Toleration iii. i. Wks. 1727 II. 311 So men will be well guarded, or recovered from false Religions. 1711 Addison Spect. No. 10 ¶1 Till I have recovered them out of that desperate State of Vice and Folly, into which the Age is fallen. 1797 Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3) XIII. 732/2 The fathers..say that the Indians are but just recovered from a barbarous and dissolute way of life. 1860 J. W. Warter Sea-board II. 436, I must recover all from their evil courses by every means in my power. |
† c. Const. into or to (a state, etc.). Obs.
| 1647 Clarendon Hist. Reb. vii. §172 They sent a formal commission of both Houses to him..to recover him to his former vigour and zeal in their cause. 1662 H. More Philos. Writ. Pref. Gen. (1712) 17 That which now deserves to be called Cartesianism for Des-Cartes his so happily recovering it again into view. 1737 Whiston Josephus, Hist. vi. iii. §5 Nor could he expect that such men could be recovered to sobriety. |
12. a. To bring back (a weapon) to a certain position. to recover arms: (see quot. 1802).
| 1594 I. G. Di Grassi's Art Defence I ij, He must..recouer his owne sworde nimbly, and then deliuer a thrust. 1685 J. S. Art of War 27 Recover your Armes. 1796 Instr. & Reg. Cavalry (1819) 240 When the rear rank has passed the general ten yards, officers recover their swords with the commanding officer. 1802 James Milit. Dict., To Recover arms, a position of the firelock when the piece is held with the lock equal to the left shoulder, and the sling to the front. 1851 Mayhew Lond. Labour III. 167 [Recover arms]. 1859 F. A. Griffiths Artil. Man. (1862) 153 The..officers recover and carry their swords. |
| absol. 1837 Dickens Pickw. iv, The dogs barked, the mob screamed, the troops recovered. |
| transf. 1711 Addison Spect. No. 102 ¶2 [The ladies] are exercised by the following Words of Command,..Ground your Fans, Recover your Fans. |
b. To pull back (a horse) on its feet again.
| 1646 Evelyn Diary (Milan), Recovering the jade on all foure againe, he desir'd to be taken down. 1857 Lawrence Guy Liv. xv. 132 [The mare] was down on her head; but Guy recovered her cleverly. |
13. a. To get over, get better from (a sickness, misfortune, or affliction).
| 1340 Ayenb. 32 Þanne comþ þe dyeuel and him zayþ ‘þou hit sselt wel recouri þou art yong and strang þou sselt libbe long’. 14.. Isumbras 336 in Utterson Sel. Pieces I. 91 Ye shall be kynge with crowne,..And recover all your wo. 1550 Coverdale Spir. Perle xii. (1560) 130 After the sicke man had recouered his sore, He liued worse then euer he did before. 1597 J. King On Jonas (1618) 73 Hee should recouer his sicknesse. 1615 W. Lawson Country Housew. Gard. (1626) 15 He will safely recouer his wound within seuen yeeres. 1699 R. L'Estrange Erasm. Colloq. (1725) 152 One man has a fancy that he shall never recover a fit of sickness. 1764 Goldsm. Hist. Eng. in Lett. (1772) II. 34 This fatal blow the King could never after recover. 1801 Jane Austen Lett. (1884) I. 269 The neighbourhood have quite recovered the death of Mrs. Rider. 1875 Bryce Holy Rom. Emp. xix. (ed. 5) 350 The Free Cities had never recovered the famines and sieges of the Thirty Years' War. |
b. To annul the effect of (a slip, stumble, etc.). Also in fig. context.
| 1748 Richardson Corr. (1804) IV. 227 The accident of a broken thigh, snapped by a sudden jirk, endeavouring to recover a slip. 1768 Woman of Honor I. 198 The point with him now was to recover so terrible a stumble. 1886 Manch. Exam. 10 Mar. 5/7 Lord C. H. cleverly recovered his faux pas by offering a handsome apology. |
14. To retrieve, make good, make up for (loss, damage, etc., to oneself).
| c 1386 Chaucer Man of Law's Prol. 27 For losse of catel may recouered be, But losse of tyme shendeth vs, quod he. 1481 Caxton Myrr. i. xiv. 43 Yf she lacke on one syde she recouerith it on that other. 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. I. 506 They determyned to go thyder..to assay if they coude recover any parte of their domage. Ibid. 553 To thentent that he shulde recover agayne his losse. 1619 in Eng. & Germ. (Camden) 207 Sir Albertus Morton (who hath used more diligence in his journey to recover his detention in England then I feare may be for his health). 1682 G. Vernon Life Heylin 34 Many..losses..which he was not able to recover. 1775 C. Johnston Pilgrim 210 To try if it was possible to recover the loss which we had been too late to prevent. |
15. a. To put right, remedy, make good again (something wrong, a fault, etc.). Now rare.
| c 1384 Chaucer H. Fame i. 354 Eke though I myght dure ever That I have do rekever I never. 1442 T. Beckington Corr. (Rolls) II. 214 This grete hurt, which xx{supm}. li. wol not nowe by many dayes lightly recovere. 1536 Exhort. to North in Furniv. Ballads from MSS. I. 306 Thes ennormyties to Recoyor [sic], now lette vs tayke payne! thynges amysse to Redresse, we oure selff must enforce. 1635 R. Johnson Tom a Lincolne in Thoms Prose Rom. (1828) II. 75 Thou..hast broken thy oath of knighthood, which no excuse can recover. 1721 Perry Daggenh. Breach 106 A Breach..in two Places between Grays and Gravesend, (which, by timely Application, have been recovered). 1811 G. Colman Pref. to J. Palmer's Like Master I. 21 He had the misfortune to begin wrong in the game of life:—it is difficult to recover blots. 1869 F. W. Newman Misc. 286 He was quickly overpowered; yet to recover the mischief he had done..was difficult. |
† b. To cure, heal (a wound, disease, etc.). Obs.
| 1548 Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Matt. 11 b, A deadly wounde that can not be recouered. 1576 Baker Jewell of Health 47 b, It doth marvelously recover and helpe..the byte of a mad Dog. 1626 Massinger Rom. Actor ii. i, But grant that I by art could yet recover Your desperate sickness. 1655 Moufet & Bennet Health's Improv. (1746) 199 Many are of opinion, that Caudles..recover the Weakness of Loins. 1748 Anson's Voy. ii. i. 113 The land, and the refreshments it produces, very soon recover most stages of the sea-scurvy. |
II. refl.
16. a. To regain one's natural position or balance. Also transf. and fig.
| 1390 Gower Conf. III. 346 Er that thou falle in such a wise That thou ne myht thiself rekevere. 1638 Junius Paint. Ancients 41 We daily see..rope-dauncers..handsomly recover themselves after a perillous staggering and reeling. 1706 Phillips (ed. Kersey) s.v. Cancelier, When a light-flown Hawk in her Stooping, turns two or three times upon the Wing, to recover her self before she seizes the Prey. a 1715 Burnet Own Time iii. (1724) I. 582 Seeing that he was losing ground at Court, he intended to recover himself a little with the people. 1856 ‘Stonehenge’ Brit. Rural Sports 533/1 Many careless and low goers are constantly striking their feet against stones, but..easily recover themselves. 1895 Daily News 27 Sept. 5/4 There will be ample width for a vessel to ‘recover’ herself when entering in severe weather. |
b. To return to life or consciousness.
| 1597 Gerarde Herbal i. vii. §i. 8 At the approch of winter it dieth, and recouereth it selfe the next yeere. 1662 J. Davies tr. Olearius' Voy. Ambass. 27 Being stunn'd, it was half an hour ere I recover'd my self. |
c. To get over a loss or misfortune; to recoup oneself. rare.
| c 1645 Howell Lett. I. v. xxvi, I shall pay the wager in the place appointed, and try whether I can recover myself at gioco d'amore. 1797 Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3) X. 238/1 From this calamity, great as it was, London soon recovered itself. |
d. To get over fatigue or illness. † Also const. of.
| 1745 Fortunate Orphan 22 Where we remain'd ten Days..to recover ourselves of the Fatigues of the Journey. 1856 ‘Stonehenge’ Brit. Rural Sports Introd. 13 The over-worked lawyer..has only to bestow an occasional day upon any one of the various sports within his reach, and he speedily recovers himself. |
17. † a. To retreat, retire into a place; to fall back on one as an authority. Obs.
| 1606 G. W[oodcocke] Hist. Ivstine ii. 11 Had they not so sodainly recoured themselues againe into their Cittye, he had also bin Lord and conqueror thereof. 1650 Howell Giraffi's Rev. Naples i. 68 He recover'd himself with four of his confidents..into the next house. 1655 Fuller Ch. Hist. vi. i. 268 S. Augustine of Hippo, (on whom these Monks would willingly recover themselves) was S. Benet's Senior by sixty years. |
b. To withdraw or escape from or out of, to return to, a position, state, or condition. Now rare.
| 1611 Bible 2 Tim. ii. 26 That they may recouer themselues out of the snare of the deuill. 1613 Purchas Pilgrimage iv. xii. (1614) 407 The adioyning Princes recouering themselues from Tartarian seruitude. a 1660 Hammond Serm. xxvii. Wks. 1683 IV. 677 He seldom ever recovers himself to a sober countenance. 1720 Ozell Vertot's Rom. Rep. II. viii. 20 Hannibal..was as skilful in recovering himself out of Danger, as in drawing others into it. a 1763 Shenstone in D'Israeli Cur. Lit. (1866) 361/1, I have been at some pains to recover myself from A. Philips' misfortune of mere childishness. 1882 J. H. Blunt Ref. Ch. Eng. II. 297 Ridley's hasty endeavour to recover himself from the pitfall into which he had been precipitated. |
III. intr. or absol.
18. a. To regain health after a wound or sickness; to get well, or become healthy, again. Also fig.
| c 1350 Will. Palerne 3874 No rink þei miȝt of-reche recuuered neuer after. ? a 1400 Morte Arth. 1572 Thare salle no silver hym save, bot Ewayne recovere. c 1470 Henry Wallace x. 785 Byschop Synclar was wesyd with seknas..; and syn throu Goddis grace He recoueryt. a 1547 Surrey in Tottel's Misc. (Arb.) 3 The winters hurt recouers with the warm. 1596 Shakes. 2 Hen. IV, iv. v. 14 If hee be sicke with Ioy, Hee'le recouer without Physicke. 1647 Clarendon Hist. Reb. vi. §97 Whom..he carried..to Oxford, where he wonderfully recovered. 1724 De Foe Mem. Cavalier (1840) 26 My poor captain fell sick..but recovered. 1797 Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3) V. 12/2 Most of the young trees that are barked recover and continue healthy. 1845 Darwin Voy. Nat. xii. (1879) 268, I felt very unwell, and from that time till the end of October did not recover. 1891 E. Peacock N. Brendon I. 254 He recovered slowly, but suffered little pain. 1921 H. Crane Let. 19 Sept. (1965) 64 The L[ittle] R[eview], I was informed..is recovering, will shortly reappear as a quarterly under Pound, Picabia, etc. |
b. Const. of, from (the malady or disease, or that which causes indisposition).
| 1388 Wyclif Isa. xxxviii. 9 Whanne he hadde be sijk, and hadde rekyuered of his sikenesse. 1535 Coverdale 2 Kings viii. 8 Axe councell at y⊇ Lorde by him, and saye: Maye I recouer from this sicknesse. 1597 J. King On Jonas (1618) 73 If it be thy destiny to recouer of such a sicknesse..thou shalt recouer. 1667 Milton P.L. xi. 294 Adam by this from the cold sudden damp Recovering [etc.]. 1766 Goldsm. Vic. W. xvii, The man recovered of the bite, The dog it was that died. 1802 M. Edgeworth Moral T. (1816) I. iv. 18 The dancing-master gradually recovered from his sprain. 1841 Borrow Zincali II. ii. iii. 60 Having partially recovered from his malady. 1860 Motley Netherl. x. II. 80 Hohenlo recovered of his wound before Zutphen. |
| transf. 1649 Jer. Taylor Gt. Exemp. i. ad §9 (1667) 144 To recover from a sin is none of the easiest labours that concern the sons of men. 1871 Freeman Norm. Conq. (1876) IV. xvii. 48 The land had not yet recovered from the mere carnage of the battle. |
19. To regain life, consciousness, or composure. Also const. of, from, out of.
| 13.. Coer de L. 425 Tho he recouered of hys swowe, To hys paleys he hym drowe. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xix. 156 Thus cam it out that Cryst ouer-cam, rekeuered and lyued. 1538 Elyot Superuiuo, to recouer..whan a man semeth to be deade. 1600 Shakes. A.Y.L. iv. iii. 161 Many will swoon when they do look on bloud..Looke, he recouers. 1648 Heylin Relat. & Observ. i. 47 Before any man that was not privy to the designe, could recover out of his amazement. 1691 tr. Emilianne's Journ. Naples 195 We soon recover'd of our Fears, when..we saw them kneel down. 1781 Cowper Hope 375, I soon recover from these needless frights. 1810 Crabbe Borough xix. 251 He fell, he fainted... As he recover'd, to his mind it came [etc.]. 1877 Froude Short Stud. (1883) IV. i. x. 120 The archbishop had seated himself to recover from the agitation of the preceding scene. |
† 20. a. To rally, to return; to make one's way, to succeed in coming or passing (again). Const. to, unto, over, etc. Also with up. Obs.
| c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 13958 Syn had þey no grace to stande, Ne myghte relye [Petyt MS. recouer], but euere fleande. c 1330 Arth. & Merl. 1650 (Kölbing) Þat he fleiȝe in to þe valaye & recouerd [etc.]. c 1450 Lonelich Grail xiii. 179 Ȝif Euere I Mowe rekeuere to sarras, I schal ȝow hyghly qwyten Er that ȝe pas. 1583 Golding Calvin on Deut. v. 28 Let vs fight against ourselues and daily indeuor to recouer vnto God. 1596 Raleigh Discov. Gviana 97 We found it a wearisome way backe..to recouer vp againe to the head of the riuer. 1639 Fuller Holy War iv. vii, With much ado the Christians recovered to Antioch, having scarce a third part of them left. 1668 H. More Div. Dial. iii. xxxiv. I. 535 Lapsed Souls..that recover into Sincerity are saved as we are saved. 1680 ― Apocal. Apoc. 184 If..she ever recover unto that plight again. |
† b. To gain ground again of one. Obs.—1
| 1654 in Burton's Diary (1828) I. 165 A recoiling man may, haply, recover of his enemy; but the courage of an enemy, surely, will be in the keeping of his ground. |
21. a. To regain one's footing, position, or balance; † to get up again; also, to make a return from, † to get the better of, a slip, etc.
| 1494 Fabyan Chron. vi. ccxii. 228 It happed one of the Kynges cuppe berers to stumble and to recouer agayne. 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. I. ccviii. 249 The lorde of Gommegines was ouerthrowen, and coude nat recouer vp agayne. 1745 Fortunate Orphan 9 He did not believe it was possible to recover of this Fall. 1796 Morse Amer. Geog. I. 667 A horse's foot having apparently slipped several inches and recovered again. 1856 ‘Stonehenge’ Brit. Rural Sports 533/1 The ground is not cleared by the toe, and when it is struck there is not power to recover from the mistake. |
b. Fencing. To return to a position of guard after a thrust.
| 1705 H. Blackwell Eng. Fencing Master 22 Advance half a Foot, and make home your Thrust, and as you recover beat on his Foile in Carte. 1809 Roland Fencing 26 After a thrust is delivered..it is necessary to resume your former position of the guard, which is termed recovering on guard. 1862 Chambers' Encycl. s.v. Fencing, A thrust can be returned when the adversary thrusts, or when, baffled in his attack, he is recovering to his guard. |
c. To rise again after bowing or curtseying.
| 1711 Steele Spect. No. 240 ¶2 This Person..made a profound Bow and fell back, then recovered with a soft Air, and made a Bow to the next. 1896 A. E. Housman Shropshire Lad xvi, It nods and curtseys and recovers When the wind blows above. |
22. a. Law. To obtain, by legal process, possession or restoration of the thing claimed; to succeed in a claim or suit of recovery.
| 1422–61 in Cal. Proc. Chanc. Q. Eliz. (1827) I. Introd. 22 Yef that he wolde holde with hym..wherthurgh he myȝt recovere ayenst me, that he sholde have the thridde peny of his recovering. 1515 Act 7 Hen. VIII, c. 4 Every Advowaunt..shall recover their damages and costes..as the playntyf shuld have doo yf they had recoveryd in the said Replevyne. 1607 Cowell Interpr. s.v. Recovery, A third person afterward by suite of lawe recouereth against me, I have my remedy..to recover in value, that is, to recover so much in mony as the land is worth. a 1610 Healey Theophrastus To Rdr., If the thing bought bee evicted from the buyer..hee may sue the Broker, and recover, as of the owner. 1798 Bay Amer. Law Rep. (1809) I. 66 Plaintiff had a right to recover, according to the law and custom of merchants. 1817 W. Selwyn Law Nisi Prius (ed. 4) II. 1214 The plaintiff shall recover according to the verdict. 1866 Crump Banking v. 118 The holder must neither protest nor give notice of dishonour, as he thereby precludes himself from recovering against the acceptor. |
b. To make up a loss again.
| 1870 L. Oliphant Piccadilly 95 If I can carry on for another fortnight, I have got information which makes it certain I shall recover on them. |
▪ III. recover, v.2
(riːˈkʌvə(r))
Also re-cover.
[re- 5 a.]
trans. To cover again.
| c 1400 Master of Game ii. (MS. Digby 182) Þen be þei recouerede of her newe here, þat men call polifed, And hir hornes ben keuered with a softe heer. 1579 Tomson Calvin's Serm. Tim. 504/2 It would cost me too much money to set the carpenters a worke to recouer mine house, it would cost me to much in Slate. 1612 Proc. Virginia xi. in Capt. Smith's Wks. (Arb.) 154 In 3 monthes, we..built some 20 houses; re-couered our Church [etc.]. 1645 Fuller Good Th. in Bad T. (1841) 68 Thus in the sight of our soul heaven is covered, discovered, and recovered. 1778 W. H. Marshall Minutes Agric. 13 May 1775 By plowing in the common way..the majority of the root-weeds are re-covered in a few minutes. 1896 Westm. Gaz. 4 Nov. 8/3 The prisoner brought her the umbrella in question to recover. |