recruit English · revision 15201

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1642|origins=ine-pro *ker-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɹɪˈkɹut/; /ɹɪˈkɹuːt/ ''(UK)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fr|recrute]], an obsolete dialect (Picardy or Hainault) variant of [[m|fr|recrue|t=a levy; literally new growth]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) the past participle of [[m|fro|recreistre|t=to grow again]] ([[m|fr|recroître]]),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from [[la|recrēscō|t=to grow again]],^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998) from [[m|la|re-|t=again]] and [[m|la|crēscō|t=to grow]] (see [[crescent]]), from [[ine-pro|*ker-|t=to grow]].^(Etymonline) The verb is from [[m|fr|recruter]].^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ As a verb, to strengthen or reinforce: the 1630s in Etymonline, 1642 in Merriam-Webster, 1643 in the OED (reinforcing an army with fresh troops).^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(OED 1989) The noun, recovery or renewal, is from before 1643 in Barnhart,^(Barnhart 1988) and a fresh body of troops from 1647.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The noun replaced earlier ''recrew'', a body of military reinforcements (1619).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) Enlisting new soldiers is from the 1650s,^(Etymonline) and a single newly enlisted soldier or sailor developed from the plural, reinforcements.^(Hoad 1986)^(OED 1989) From the 1660s it was used of gaining fresh supplies of anything,^(Etymonline) and of recovering health or strength in the 17th century.^(Hoad 1986) Recruiting student athletes is recorded by 1913.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1619 – recrew, reinforcements.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1643 – to reinforce an army.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1647 – a body of fresh troops.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1650s – to enlist soldiers.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1913 – to recruit athletes.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[enlist]] people for military service, or to strengthen an armed force by enlistment.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To find and take on new members, employees or supporters.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(archaic)'' To renew or restore health or strength.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A newly enlisted member of the armed forces.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A new member of an organization or group.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[recruiter]]

+ * [[recruitment]]

+ * [[recruitable]]

+ * [[unrecruited]]

+ * [[seaman recruit]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[crescent]]

+ * [[increase]]

+ * [[accrue]]

+ * [[crew]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ In Herefordshire dialect to recruit meant to mend a gate.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}