recover English · revision 6179

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1300|origins=la recuperāre}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /rɪˈkʌv.ə/, US /rɪˈkʌv.ɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English rekeveren, recoveren, [[bor|xno|recoverer]], [[bor|fro|recovrer|t=to come back; to regain health; to get again]] (modern French recouvrer),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(Etymonline) from [[la|recuperāre|t=to get again, recover]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) which is akin to [[m|la|recipere|t=to take back, receive]].^(MWU 2024) It is a doublet of [[recuperate]], borrowed directly from the Latin.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Probably before 1300, in ''Arthour and Merlin'', both to get back something lost and to regain strength or health;^(Barnhart 1988) Etymonline dates to regain consciousness or health to about 1300.^(Etymonline) Word Origins notes that both senses were present in English from the start.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ NODE says the word originally referred to health.^(NODE 1998) To get anything back or regain control of it after losing it is from the mid-14th century,^(Etymonline) 1377 in the OED,^(OED 1989) and to regain territory by conquest from about 1375.^(OED 1989) In law, to obtain by judgment or legal proceedings is from the late 14th century.^(Etymonline) To restore another person to health is from about 1600, and to rescue from danger from the 1610s.^(Etymonline) ''To recover arms'' (1680s) is to bring a gun from the aiming position to ''ready''.^(Etymonline) Obtaining usable substances from ore or waste, and compensating for a loss, as to ''recover costs'', are other modern senses.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023) [[recovery|alt=Recovery]] is possibly about 1303, in Mannyng,^(Barnhart 1988) and [[recoverable]] before 1471.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1300 – to regain health; to get back.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1303 – recovery.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1377 – to get back into one's possession.^(OED 1989)

+ * late 14th century – to obtain by legal process.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1600 – to restore another to health.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1680s – to recover arms.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To return to a normal state of health, mind or strength.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To get back something lost or taken; to [[regain]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To make up for or recoup a loss.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To extract usable materials from ore or waste.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(law)'' To obtain by a judgment in court, as damages.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[recoverable]]

+ * [[recoverer]]

+ * [[recoverability]]

+ * [[unrecovered]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[recovery]]

+ * [[recuperate]]

+ * [[receive]]

+ * [[capable]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Re-cover, to cover again, is a separate formation from [[re-]] and [[cover]], pronounced UK /ˌriːˈkʌv.ə/.^(Roach et al. 2011)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}