5  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Reclaim  \Re*claim"\,  v.  t. 
  To  claim  back  to  demand  the  return  of  as  a  right  to  attempt 
  to  recover  possession  of 
 
  A  tract  of  land  [Holland]  snatched  from  an  element 
  perpetually  reclaiming  its  prior  occupancy.  --W.  Coxe. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Reclaim  \Re*claim"\,  v.  i. 
  1.  To  cry  out  in  opposition  or  contradiction;  to  exclaim 
  against  anything  to  contradict;  to  take  exceptions. 
 
  Scripture  reclaims,  and  the  whole  Catholic  church 
  reclaims,  and  Christian  ears  would  not  hear  it 
  --Waterland. 
 
  At  a  later  period  Grote  reclaimed  strongly  against 
  Mill's  setting  Whately  above  Hamilton.  --Bain. 
 
  2.  To  bring  anyone  back  from  evil  courses;  to  reform. 
 
  They  hardened  more  by  what  might  most  reclaim, 
  Grieving  to  see  his  glory  .  .  .  took  envy.  --Milton. 
 
  3.  To  draw  back  to  give  way  [R.  &  Obs.]  --Spenser. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Reclaim  \Re*claim"\,  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Reclaimed};  p.  pr  & 
  vb  n.  {Reclaiming}.]  [F.  r['e]clamer,  L.  reclamare 
  reclamatum  to  cry  out  against;  pref.  re-  re-  +  clamare  to 
  call  or  cry  aloud.  See  {Claim}.] 
  1.  To  call  back  as  a  hawk  to  the  wrist  in  falconry,  by  a 
  certain  customary  call  --Chaucer. 
 
  2.  To  call  back  from  flight  or  disorderly  action  to  call  to 
  for  the  purpose  of  subduing  or  quieting. 
 
  The  headstrong  horses  hurried  Octavius  .  .  .  along 
  and  were  deaf  to  his  reclaiming  them  --Dryden. 
 
  3.  To  reduce  from  a  wild  to  a  tamed  state;  to  bring  under 
  discipline;  --  said  especially  of  birds  trained  for  the 
  chase,  but  also  of  other  animals.  ``An  eagle  well 
  reclaimed.''  --Dryden. 
 
  4.  Hence:  To  reduce  to  a  desired  state  by  discipline,  labor, 
  cultivation,  or  the  like  to  rescue  from  being  wild, 
  desert,  waste,  submerged,  or  the  like  as  to  reclaim  wild 
  land,  overflowed  land,  etc 
 
  5.  To  call  back  to  rectitude  from  moral  wandering  or 
  transgression;  to  draw  back  to  correct  deportment  or 
  course  of  life;  to  reform. 
 
  It  is  the  intention  of  Providence,  in  all  the 
  various  expressions  of  his  goodness,  to  reclaim 
  mankind.  --Rogers. 
 
  6.  To  correct;  to  reform;  --  said  of  things  [Obs.] 
 
  Your  error,  in  time  reclaimed,  will  be  venial.  --Sir 
  E.  Hoby. 
 
  7.  To  exclaim  against;  to  gainsay.  [Obs.]  --Fuller. 
 
  Syn:  To  reform;  recover;  restore;  amend;  correct. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Reclaim  \Re*claim"\,  n. 
  The  act  of  reclaiming,  or  the  state  of  being  reclaimed; 
  reclamation;  recovery.  [Obs.] 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  reclaim 
  v  1:  claim  back  [syn:  {repossess}] 
  2:  of  materials  from  waste  products  [syn:  {recover}] 
  3:  make  useful  again  transform  from  a  useless  or  uncultivated 
  state;  "The  people  reclaimed  the  marshes" 

browse words by letter
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
or search   thesauri dictionary search words