Etymology From Middle English recoveren, rekeveren, from Anglo-Norman recoverer and Old French recovrer, from Latin recuperāre, alternative form of reciperāre. Doublet of recuperate. The noun is from Middle English recover, from the verb.
To get back, to regain (a physical thing; in astronomy and navigation, sight of a thing or a signal).
After days of inquiries, he finally recovered his lost wallet.
For days telescopes surveyed the skies to recover the small asteroid.
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And Dauid recouered all that the Amalekites had caried away: and Dauid reſcued his two wiues.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 Samuel 30:18, column 1:
Not unnaturally, “Auntie” took this communication in bad part. Thus outraged, she showed herself to be a bold as well as a furious virago. Next day she found her way to their lodgings and tried to recover her ward by the hair of the head.1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter XXII, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
All the comrades of the Party must strive with maximum courage and unswerving determination, together with our compatriots of the whole country, to carry out our historic task of recovering the mainland and reshaping the Chinese nation.1979 December 16, Ching-kuo Chiang, “Chairman Chiang Ching-kuo's Opening Address to the KMT Plenum”, in 自由中國週報 [Free China Weekly], volume XX, number 49, Taipei, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 3, column 1:
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To salvage, to extricate, to rescue (a thing or person).
They recovered three of the explorers very much alive, then another, wracked with severe hypothermia, who was taken to hospital.
Network Rail doesn't expect the line through Carmont to open for around a month, as it faces the mammoth task of recovering the two power cars and four coaches from ScotRail's wrecked train, repairing bridge 325, stabilising earthworks around the landslip, and replacing the track.2020 August 26, “Network News: Mid-September before line reopens, says Network Rail”, in Rail, page 10:
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To replenish to, resume (a good state of mind or body).
At the top of the hill I asked to stop for a few minutes to recover my strength.
Whether you need to recover from a stressful day, a strenuous workout or even an injury or surgery, restorative yoga may be just the thing for you.2017 February 17, Dana Santas, “Recovering from surgery or stress? Yoga can help”, in CNN:
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Law To obtain a positive judgement; to win in a lawsuit.
The plaintiff recovered in his suit, being awarded declaratory relief and a clearing of his name.
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Law To gain as compensation or reparation, usually by formal legal process.
to recover damages in trespass; to recover debt and costs in a legal action or that is owing
The forest is not three leagues off; / If we recover that, we're sure enough.c. 1590–1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Two Gentlemen of Verona”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]:
But with much ado the Christians recovered to Antioch, having ſcarce a third part of them left, their horſes all dead, and themſelves ſcarce mounted on their legs, miſerably weak; as what the mercy of ſword, plague, and famine had pleaſed to ſpare.1639, Thomas Fuller, “Theobald King of Navarre Maketh an Unsuccessfull Voyage into Palestine”, in The Historie of the Holy Warre, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: […] Thomas Buck, one of the printers to the Universitie of Cambridge [and sold by John Williams, London], →OCLC, book IV, page 179:
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Except he could recover one of the Cities of Refuge he was to die.1646, John Hales, Golden Remains of the Ever Memorable Mr. John Hales:
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Archaic To restore to good health, consciousness, life etc.
The wine in my bottle will recover him.1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii]:
And that they may recouer themſelues out of the ſnare of the deuill, who are taken captiue by him at his will.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 2 Timothy 2:26, column 2:
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Cnelius a physician[…]gave him a clyster, by which he was speedily recovered.1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC:
The fever must have run its course by now, and if he is about to die I will recover him.1886 October – 1887 January, H[enry] Rider Haggard, She: A History of Adventure, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., published 1887, →OCLC:
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Archaic To make good by reparation; to make up for; to retrieve; to repair the loss or injury of.
to recover lost time
Even good men have […]many failings and lapses to lament and recover.a. 1729, John Rogers, The Difficulties of Obtaining Salvation:
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21 May, 1665, Abraham Cowley, letter to Dr. Thomas Sprat I do hope to recover my late hurt.
when I had recovered a little, Friday (said I) God will at last punish him severely1719 May 6 (Gregorian calendar), [Daniel Defoe], The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, […], London: […] W[illiam] Taylor […], →OCLC:
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To regain one's composure, balance etc.
Spinning round, he caught a stone with his ankle, but recovered quickly before turning to face me.
Meanwhile Nanny Broome was recovering from her initial panic and seemed anxious to make up for any kudos she might have lost, by exerting her personality to the utmost. She took the policeman's helmet and placed it on a chair, and unfolded his tunic to shake it and fold it up again for him.1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 19, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC:
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To get better, to regain health or prosperity.
Followed by "from" to show what caused the bad feeling
I was hurt, but I knew I’d recover, given time.
Without calling in Business Recovery experts, the company saw trade and investor confidence recover sharply in the wake of the crisis.
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I lost out in the deal, but I quickly recovered financially
It takes time and good health to recover from injury, surgery, a bereavement and emotional turmoil
My trip along the rest of the line is delightful. It's yet another route that has recovered from previous rationalisation by having tracks and platforms reinstated in recent years.2020 December 2, Paul Bigland, “My weirdest and wackiest Rover yet”, in Rail, page 67:
Etymology From Middle English recoveren, rekeveren, from Anglo-Norman recoverer and Old French recovrer, from Latin recuperāre, alternative form of reciperāre. Doublet of recuperate. The noun is from Middle English recover, from the verb.
It was neuer in my thoughte saide laūcelot to withholde the quene from my lord Arthur / but in soo moche she shold haue ben dede for my sake / me semeth it was my parte to saue her lyf and putte her from that daunger tyl better recouer myghte come / & now I thanke god sayd sir Launcelot that the pope hath made her pees1485, Sir Thomas Malory, “xiiij”, in Le Morte Darthur, book XX:
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Government, Military, Politics, War A position of holding a firearm during exercises, whereby the lock is at shoulder height and the sling facing out.
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Dated The forward movement in rowing, after one stroke to take another (recovery).