- Receive
- Receive Re*ceive" (r[-e]*s[=e]v"), v. t. [imp. & p. p.
{Received} (r[-e]*s[=e]vd"); p. pr. & vb. n. {Receiving}.]
[OF. receveir, recevoir, F. recevoir, fr. L. recipere; pref.
re- re- + capere to take, seize. See {Capable}, {Heave}, and
cf. {Receipt}, {Reception}, {Recipe}.]
1. To take, as something that is offered, given, committed,
sent, paid, or the like; to accept; as, to receive money
offered in payment of a debt; to receive a gift, a
message, or a letter.
[1913 Webster]
Receyven all in gree that God us sent. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
2. Hence: To gain the knowledge of; to take into the mind by assent to; to give admission to; to accept, as an opinion, notion, etc.; to embrace. [1913 Webster]
Our hearts receive your warnings. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
The idea of solidity we receive by our touch. --Locke. [1913 Webster]
3. To allow, as a custom, tradition, or the like; to give credence or acceptance to. [1913 Webster]
Many other things there be which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots. --Mark vii. 4. [1913 Webster]
4. To give admittance to; to permit to enter, as into one's house, presence, company, and the like; as, to receive a lodger, visitor, ambassador, messenger, etc. [1913 Webster]
They kindled a fire, and received us every one. --Acts xxviii. 2. [1913 Webster]
5. To admit; to take in; to hold; to contain; to have capacity for; to be able to take in. [1913 Webster]
The brazen altar that was before the Lord was too little to receive the burnt offerings. --1 Kings viii. 64. [1913 Webster]
6. To be affected by something; to suffer; to be subjected to; as, to receive pleasure or pain; to receive a wound or a blow; to receive damage. [1913 Webster]
Against his will he can receive no harm. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
7. To take from a thief, as goods known to be stolen. [1913 Webster]
8. (Lawn Tennis) To bat back (the ball) when served. [1913 Webster]
{Receiving ship}, one on board of which newly recruited sailors are received, and kept till drafted for service. [1913 Webster]
Syn: To accept; take; allow; hold; retain; admit.
Usage: {Receive}, {Accept}. To receive describes simply the act of taking. To accept denotes the taking with approval, or for the purposes for which a thing is offered. Thus, we receive a letter when it comes to hand; we receive news when it reaches us; we accept a present when it is offered; we accept an invitation to dine with a friend. [1913 Webster]
Who, if we knew What we receive, would either not accept Life offered, or soon beg to lay it down. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
