reciprocate
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
English[edit]
Etymology[edit]
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[edit]
Verb[edit]
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.
Derived terms[edit]
- reciprocating (adj)
Related terms[edit]
Translations[edit]
to mutually give and take something; to interchange
|
to give something in response
|
to move backwards and forwards, like a piston
|
to counter, retort or retaliate
Italian[edit]
Etymology 1[edit]
Verb[edit]
reciprocate
- inflection of reciprocare:
Etymology 2[edit]
Participle[edit]
reciprocate f pl
Spanish[edit]
Verb[edit]
reciprocate
- second-person singular voseo imperative of reciprocar combined with te
Categories:
- English terms derived from Latin
- English 4-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English terms with audio links
- 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
- Spanish non-lemma forms
- Spanish verb forms