recover

See also re-cover

English

Alternative forms

• recovre (obsolete)

Etymology 1

From Anglo-Norman recoverer and Old French recovrer, from Latin recuperare.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ɹɪˈkʌvə/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ʌvə(r)

Verb

recover (third-person singular simple present recovers, present participle recovering, simple past and past participle recovered)

1. (transitive) To get back, regain (a physical thing lost etc.).

   After days of inquiries, he finally recovered his lost wallet.

2. (transitive) To return to, resume (a given state of mind or body).

   At the top of the hill I asked to stop for a few minutes to recover my strength.

3. (transitive, obsolete) To reach (a place), arrive at.

   We rode hard all night, and recovered the outskirts of the town by first light.

4. (transitive, archaic) To restore to good health, consciousness, life etc.
   • 1621, Robert Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy, vol. I, New York 2001, p. 233-4:

     Cnelius a physician [...] gave him a clyster, by which he was speedily recovered.

5. (transitive, archaic) To get better from; to get over.

   To the end of his days, he never fully recovered his daughter's death.

6. (intransitive) To get better, regain one's health.

   I was hurt, but I knew I'd recover, given time.

7. (intransitive) To regain one's composure, balance etc.

   Spinning round, he caught a stone with his ankle; but recovered quickly before turning to face me.

Translations

transitive:to get back, regain

Dutch: terugwinnen (nl) Esperanto: regajni (eo) Italian: ritrovare (it)

Russian: возвращать (ru) (vozvraščát') impf., возвратить (ru) (vozvratít') pf.; вернуть (ru) (vernút') pf.

intransitive: to get better, regain health

Czech: zotavit se Finnish: palautua (fi) Russian: выздоравливать (ru) (vyzdorávlivat') impf., выздороветь (ru) (výzdorovet') pf.; поправляться (ru) (popravlját'sja) impf., поправиться (ru) (poprávitsja) pf.

Related terms

• recovery

Noun

recover (plural recovers)

1. (obsolete) Recovery. [14th-17th c.]
   • 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book XX:

     But I kepe her for thys cause: insomuche as she shulde have be brente for my sake, mesemed hit was my parte to save her lyff and put her from that daungere tyll bettir recover myght com.

2. (military) A position of holding a firearm during exercises, whereby the lock is at shoulder height and the sling facing out.

Etymology 2

re- +‎ cover.

Verb

recover (third-person singular simple present recovers, present participle recovering, simple past and past participle recovered)

1. To cover again.
2. (roofing) To add a new roof membrane or steep-slope covering over an existing one.

Anagrams

• coverer