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reclaim |
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"
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