reciprocate
English
Etymology
From Latin recīprocō (“to move back and forth”), possibly from a phrase such as reque proque (“back and forth”), from re- (“back”), prō (“forwards”) and -que (“and”). Compare reciprocal.
Pronunciation
Verb
reciprocate (third-person singular simple present reciprocates, present participle reciprocating, simple past and past participle reciprocated)
- (transitive) To exchange two things, with both parties giving one thing and taking another thing.
- (transitive) To give something else in response (where the "thing" may also be abstract, a feeling or action) To make a reciprocal gift.
- I gave them apples from my tree; they reciprocated with a pie and some apple jelly.
- 2019, Con Man Games, SmashGames, quoting Nugget, Kindergarten 2, SmashGames:
- Nugget appreciates the generosity! Nugget will reciprocate with a Monstermon card!
- (intransitive) To move backwards and forwards, like a piston.
- 1697, Virgil, “The Fourth Book of the Georgics”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
- One brawny smith the puffing bellows plies, / And draws and blows reciprocating air.
- (intransitive) To counter, retort or retaliate.
Translations
to mutually give and take something; to interchange
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to give something in response
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to move backwards and forwards, like a piston
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to counter, retort or retaliate
Italian
Etymology 1
Verb
reciprocate
- inflection of reciprocare:
Etymology 2
Participle
reciprocate f pl
Categories:
- English terms derived from Latin
- English 4-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English terms with audio pronunciation
- English lemmas
- English verbs
- English transitive verbs
- English terms with usage examples
- English terms with quotations
- English intransitive verbs
- Italian non-lemma forms
- Italian verb forms
- Italian past participle forms