Etymology: < post-classical Latin Recollectus, adjective (1595, with reference to the branch of the Franciscans, in allusion to their withdrawal from the world and attention to God), spec. use of classical Latin recollectus , past participle of recolligere recollect v.¹ Compare recollect v.² 3, recollection n.² 2. Compare Recollet n., Recollet adj.In some secondary sources (e.g. T. J. Campbell Pioneer Priests of North America (1910) II. 251) it is suggested that the Latin adjective was applied earlier to other reforming groups of Franciscans in the early 16th cent. The Franciscan Recollects did important missionary work in North America. In 1897 they were incorporated in the Order of Friars Minor. On the likely reason for the development of sense B. 2 see quot. 1781.

Etymology: Originally < classical Latin recollect-, past participial stem of recolligere to gather up again, reassemble, to repossess oneself of (property), to recover (mentally), to regain (one's strength), (reflexive) to pull oneself together, take heart, in post-classical Latin also to recall, remember (11th or 12th cent. in continental sources; from 12th cent. in British sources), (reflexive) to withdraw together or into a group (8th cent., subsequently from 13th cent. in British sources) < re- re- prefix + colligere collect v., but in later use frequently apprehended as an English formation from re- prefix + collect v., and consequently sometimes written re-collect. Compare Middle French recolligier to extract (from a written work) (c1370), Middle French recolliger, French récolliger to collect together (16th cent.; rare), (reflexive) to meditate or contemplate religiously (1636).recollect v.² shows what were originally senses of the same word, now usually distinguished in pronunciation (although not in spelling), although individual usage varies, and the word sometimes occurs with a short vowel in the first syllable even in senses listed at the present entry, and conversely with a long vowel in the first syllable in senses listed at recollect v.² The divergence in pronunciation probably reflects the fact that the (originally metaphorical) senses concerned with mental activity at recollect v.² are perceived as having a less direct connection with collect v., and hence show the pronunciation pattern typically shown by words in re- which are of classical origin (compare discussion at re- prefix). This divergence in pronunciation is probably of relatively recent origin: early pronouncing dictionaries (e.g. Sheridan 1780, Walker 1791) give a short vowel in the first syllable in all senses.

Etymology: Originally the same word as recollect v.¹, now usually distinguished in pronunciation in the senses below (see discussion at recollect v.¹).With sense 3 compare French récolliger (see recollect v.¹).