recurv.
/rᵻˈkəː/, U.S. /rəˈkər/, /riˈkər/ 1. † b. intransitive. Scottish. To have recourse on or upon a person (for money, assistance, etc.). Obsolete.
a. intransitive. To resort or have recourse to a person or other agent for assistance or argument. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > use (made of things) > recourse > have recourse to [verb (transitive)]
fang855
runOE
to take to ——?c1225
seeka1300
goc1390
to have (one's or a) recourse toc1405
recourse?a1425
suit1450
to take (also make or make one's) recourse to (also into)c1456
repairc1475
to fall to ——1490
recur1511
to take unto ——1553
flee1563
betake1590
retreat1650
to call on ——1721
devolve1744
to draw upon ——1800
to draw on ——a1817
1511–12 [implied in: 1511–12 in J. B. Paul Accts. Treasurer Scotl. (1902) IV. 325 To Ylay herold..for thair crying larges one new ȝeir day, deliverit eftir the auld ricurand use. (at recurring adj. 1)].
1529 T. Wolsey in Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Reformation (1679) I. Rec. ii. xxii. 51 For if his Grace were minded,..there were no need to recurr unto the Pope's Holiness for doing thereof.
1602 J. Cecil in T. G. Law Archpriest Controv. (1898) II. 206 We recurred to God and our blessed ladye that they woulde diverte this malheure from vs.
1646 Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica 195 Scaliger declining this reason hath recurred unto another from the difference of parts in both sexes. View more context for this quotation
1690 J. Locke Ess. Humane Understanding ii. xvii. 107 If to avoid Succession in eternal Existence, they recur to the Punctum Stans of the Schools.
1751 B. Franklin Idea of Eng. School in Papers (1961) IV. 103 This will oblige them to recur frequently to their Grammar, and fix its principal Rules in their Memory.
1785 T. Jefferson Writings (1859) I. 485 They have no occasion to recur from his clemency to his justice.
1807 G. Chalmers Caledonia I. i. ii. 99 The sad expedients, to which a rude people were obliged to recur for safety.
1854 H. H. Milman Hist. Lat. Christianity III. vii. iii. 183 He will recur to the Blessed Virgin to enlighten him.
1903 H. James Ambassadors vii. xvi. 215 With renewed pressure from that source, he had not unnaturally recurred to a remedy that seemed..to meet the case.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > use (made of things) > recourse > have recourse to [verb (transitive)] > specifically a person
resorta1325
recur1676
1676 in M. Wood Extracts Rec. Burgh Edinb. (1950) X. 274 Considering that the same [sc. a payment] would be ane ivell preparative wherby all other persones..may recure upon the toun for [etc.].
1714 W. Dugud Scots Presbyterian Justice 34 It is very improbable I would have absolutely promised not to have recurred upon Mr. Russel for payment of a just Debt, which none deny this to have been.
1761 J. Guild Information for J., M., & H. Guilds 18 Let it be supposed, that they had never paid the Debts to the Bank, to Lord Traquair or Mr. Glen, and that the Creditors had recurred upon Guild, who was still bound in the Debts.
1838 W. Bell Dict. Law Scotl. 827 Recourse is the right competent to an assignee or disponee..to recur on the vender or cedent for relief.
a. intransitive. To return into or to a place (occasionally an activity). Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > aspects of travel > return > [verb (intransitive)]
to wend againeOE
i-cherrec1000
again-chareOE
again-comeOE
again-fareOE
again-goOE
eft-sithec1175
to turn againc1175
returna1325
attournec1386
turnc1390
recovera1393
repair?c1400
recourse?a1425
to go backc1425
resortc1425
revertc1475
renew1488
retour?1505
to make return1534
to turn back1538
retend1543
to come short home1548
regress1552
rejourna1556
revolt1567
revolve1587
repeal1596
recur1612
rewend1616
revene1656
to get back1664
to take back1674
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > backward movement > move backwards [verb (intransitive)] > return towards point of departure
repaira1325
returna1325
rebounda1382
redounda1382
recovera1393
to go backc1425
revertc1475
renew1488
reverse1542
retire1567
revolve1587
reciprocate1623
retrovert1639
to get back1664
recur1719
hoicks1762
boomerang1900
1612 T. Shelton tr. M. de Cervantes Don-Quixote: Pt. 1 iv. vii. 367 Her honesty had enough to doe recurring to her eyes to containe them, lest they should giue any demonstration of the amorous compassion which Lotharios wordes and teares had stirred in her breast.
1654 W. Charleton Physiologia Epicuro-Gassendo-Charltoniana i. v. 46 In the ordinary Translation of bodies through the aer, it is no wonder that the adjacent aer is propelled by them; since they leave as much room behind them, as the aer propelled before them formerly possessed, whereinto it may and doth recur.
1658 E. Phillips New World Eng. Words at Cycle A Term in Astronomy, Cycle of the Sun is the revolution of 28 years, Cycle of the Moon the revolution of 19 years, in which time both of their motions recur to the same point.
1659 A. Wood Life & Times (1891) I. 286 To which lodgings A. W. did recurr dayly, till he had satisfied himself with them [sc. manuscripts].
1719 D. Waterland Vindic. Christ's Divinity xxvii Novatian..was intent upon..showing how all recurs to one head and fountain.
1762 O. Goldsmith Citizen of World II. 153 Whatever vicissitudes we experience in life, however we toil, or wheresoever we wander, our fatigued wishes still recur to home.
1872 ‘G. Eliot’ Middlemarch (1873) III. vi. liv. 204 Mrs Farebrother recurred to her knitting with a dignified satisfaction in her neat little effort at oratory.
b. intransitive. To run or move back, recede (from). Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > backward movement > move backwards [verb (intransitive)]
reversec1450
recoil1483
back1486
regressa1525
retire1542
flinch1578
retrograde1613
recur1616
retrocede1638
ravel1656
backen1748
regrede1800
regrade1811
retrogress1812
1616 J. Bullokar Eng. Expositor Recurre, to run backe.
1784 M. Young Enq. Princ. Phænomena Sounds ii. 76 If half the latitude of the first wave be an aliquant part of the string, after the motion has been propagated to the farthest extremity, there will be a new series of less waves, recurring in a contrary direction.
1788 Trifler No. 19. 254 There is a point of depression as well as of exaltation, from which human affairs when once arrived, naturally recur in a contrary progress.
c. intransitive. To resort to a place. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > [verb (intransitive)]
nimeOE
becomec885
teec888
goeOE
i-goc900
lithec900
wendeOE
i-farec950
yongc950
to wend one's streetOE
fare971
i-wende971
shakeOE
winda1000
meteOE
wendOE
strikec1175
seekc1200
wevec1200
drawa1225
stira1225
glidea1275
kenc1275
movec1275
teemc1275
tightc1275
till1297
chevec1300
strake13..
travelc1300
choosec1320
to choose one's gatea1325
journeyc1330
reachc1330
repairc1330
wisec1330
cairc1340
covera1375
dressa1375
passa1375
tenda1375
puta1382
proceedc1392
doa1400
fanda1400
haunta1400
snya1400
take?a1400
thrilla1400
trace?a1400
trinea1400
fangc1400
to make (also have) resortc1425
to make one's repair (to)c1425
resort1429
ayrec1440
havea1450
speer?c1450
rokec1475
wina1500
hent1508
persevere?1521
pursuec1540
rechec1540
yede1563
bing1567
march1568
to go one's ways1581
groyl1582
yode1587
sally1590
track1590
way1596
frame1609
trickle1629
recur1654
wag1684
fadge1694
haul1802
hike1809
to get around1849
riddle1856
bat1867
biff1923
truck1925
1654 W. Charleton Physiologia Epicuro-Gassendo-Charltoniana i. v. 46 The Reason of the Waters subsistence, or pendency therein, so long as the orifice in the Neb remains stopped, is the defect of room for the aer pressed upon by the basis of the Water to recur into.
1655 T. Stanley Hist. Philos. I. i. 44 The City grew very populous, many recurring thither from all parts of Attica, for liberty and security.
3. intransitive. To go back in thought, memory, or speech (to a subject, time, etc.).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > memory > retrospection, reminiscence > look back, retrospect [verb (intransitive)] > return to a topic
returnc1405
resortc1425
relent?c1500
recur1620
remountc1740
to tread back one's steps1777
hark back1829
1620 T. Granger Syntagma Logicum 291 But [the mind] recurreth, and discourseth through the axiomes already inuented, and iudged.
1662 H. More Antidote against Atheism (ed. 3) ii. ii. 43 in Coll. Philos. Writings (ed. 2) But first I shall recurre and give a touch upon the nature of Gravity.
1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones IV. x. vi. 50 It will be necessary to recur to what had there happened since Partridge had first left it. View more context for this quotation
1780 T. Jefferson Corr. in Wks. (1859) I. 260 I retain in mind, and recur, almost daily, to your requisitions of August.
1833 H. Martineau Berkeley the Banker i. viii. 163 I know it is painful to her to recur to that terrible time.
1841 G. Catlin Lett. N. Amer. Indians II. xxxii. 1 Before I give further account of this downward voyage, however, I must recur back for a few moments, to the Teton River, from whence I started.
1855 J. L. Motley Rise Dutch Republic III. v. iii. 239 It is necessary to recur for a moment to the Prince of Orange.
1883 Harper's Mag. June 54/2 The Indian ornamentist habitually recurs to architectonic forms as the groundwork of his design.
1928 E. Garnett in J. Conrad Lett. (1956) Introd. 7 When later that evening, I had recurred to the subject of Almayer's Folly, Conrad suddenly picked up the pile of manuscript sheets from the little table and told me that he had embarked on a second book.
1955 C. J. Strachey Compl. Psychol. Wks. S. Freud XIII. Introd. p. xi The book remained a favourite all through his life and he constantly recurred to it.
1992 Newsweek 13 Jan. 68/1 Americans are recurring to the Victorian distinction between the ‘deserving’ and ‘undeserving’ poor.
4. † c. transitive (in passive). To return upon one. Obsolete. rare.
a. intransitive. Of an event, fact, state, etc.: to occur again, esp. periodically or repeatedly. Cf. reoccur v.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > frequency > [verb (intransitive)] > recur
to come againOE
revert1606
recur1636
repeat1714
reiterate1733
reoccur1734
1636 D. Calderwood Re-examnation Five Articles Enacted at Perth 143 No man can sanctifie a day, that is, set it so apart to God, that when it recurreth weekly, monethly, or yearly, we must not use worldly, but must use holy exercises.
1672 O. Walker Of Educ. i. v. 44 When the like occasion recurs.
1692 O. Walker Greek & Rom. Hist. 166 Ordinarily the Solemnity recurred only every 110th year.
a1763 J. Byrom Misc. Poems (1894–5) I. ii. 422 By your account of Rime one would suppose That the same sound all periods must close. This may be irksome,—but 'tis not the case; For varied rime affords a varied grace. No need of sameness to recur so oft, As does the pause of your Iambic soft.
1798 J. Ferriar Of Genius 281 Some degree of similarity in the course of human affairs must often recur.
1804–6 S. Smith Elem. Sketches Moral Philos. (1850) xxvi. 395 One regular set of volitions, constantly recurring at fixt periods.
1878 W. S. Jevons Polit. Econ. 120 Good vintage years on the continent of Europe..recur every ten or eleven years.
1947 Russ. Rev. 7 120/1 Droughts, suffering, and famine..frequently recur in Russia.
1990 N.Y. Rev. Bks. 1 Mar. 41/1 We have barely begun to face the issue, with the result that some Iran-contra variant is bound, sooner or later, to recur.
b. intransitive. Medicine. Of a disease, symptom, or condition: to occur again, esp. repeatedly or periodically; to reappear following remission or apparent cure.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > become diseased [verb (intransitive)] > arise > recur
recur1670
repullulate1714
1670 H. Stubbe Specimen Animadversions 125 The next day the Fits recurred now and then, but much milder.
1692 W. Salmon Medicina Practica i. xi. 42/2 He will be so perfectly Cured, that the Disease will no more recur from that numerick Cause.
a1728 J. Woodward Select Cases Physick (1757) 394 The Fever recurred in various Forms, sometimes Quotidian, sometimes Tertian, and sometimes Quartan.
1771 T. Percival Ess. Med. & Exper. (1777) I. 157 The vomiting recurs at short intervals.
1809 Med. & Physical Jrnl. 21 518 The inflammatory complaints, particularly pneumonia, have recurred with considerable violence.
1851 J. Paget Lect. Tumours ii. 18/1 In some..the disease has appeared to recur.
1951 A. R. Behnke in J. F. Fulton et al. Decompression Sickness iii. 87 Should symptoms recur.., recompress the diver to a depth giving relief.
1991 Holiday Which? Jan. 24/2 Even when it's not fatal, some types of malaria can recur throughout your life.
ΚΠ
1726 R. Wodrow Corr. (1843) III. 248 He was disabled, and for some days since his trouble was recurred upon him.
d. intransitive. Mathematics. Of a figure or group of figures in a decimal fraction: to repeat in the same order indefinitely.Frequently in present participle as postmodifier, e.g. in ‘3.33 recurring’.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > number > ratio or proportion > recur [verb (intransitive)]
circulate1769
recur1796
1748 J. Robertson Gen Treat. Mensuration (ed. 2) 33 Every circulating or recurring decimal, is a geometrical series infinitely decreasing to 0.]
1796 W. Frend Princ. Algebra 74 When a series of numbers recurs, the decimal is called a circulating decimal.
1823 J. Mitchell Dict. Math. & Physical Sci. 103/1 A circulating decimal, or..such, that if continued far enough the same figures will again recur.
1875 Encycl. Brit. II. 532/1 Subtract the decimal figures that do not recur from the whole decimal.
1941 C. Reynolds Glory Hill Farm xiii. 147 If this sow divides her eight mouthpieces by three, we get a ration of two point six recurring per piglet.
1989 E. J. Borowski & J. M. Borwein Dict. Math. 495 3 recurs in the expansion of 241/300 as 0.83333…; this is read as ‘point eight three-recurring’.
1998 K. Eshun More Brilliant than Sun vii. 114 Drones recur indefinitely at 33.3 recurring, trapping you in despotic time.
5.
a. intransitive. Of a thought, image, memory, etc.: to come back to (formerly also †in, into) one's mind.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > memory > have in one's mind, remember [verb (intransitive)] > recur
to come back1523
rejounce1556
recourse1561
recurse1638
recur1651
1651 T. Fuller Abel Redevivus 187 He dream'd..he should be had to Newgate and burned at Smithfield the Munday ensuing, which after many frightfull awakings, still recurring to his troubled fancy, he arose.
1665 J. Spencer Disc. Vulgar Prophecies 101 This the Philosopher hath noted, Men that are of a talkative and melancholy temper see any kind of Visions. And this, especially because they have so deep a resentment of the most affecting objects, whose images therefore recur to the fancy when they are asleep, in most distinct and lively figures.
c1695 J. Locke Exam. Malebranche §51 in Wks. (1823) The idea I have once had will be unchangeably the same as long as it recurs the same in my memory.
1751 S. Johnson Rambler No. 175. ⁋3 Sentences, that may be easily impressed on the memory, and taught by frequent recollection to recur habitually to the mind.
1780 W. Beckford Biogr. Mem. Painters 54 The delicacy of her sensations recurred to his memory.
1813 J. Austen Pride & Prejudice III. i. 17 Every idea of the impropriety of her being found there, recurring to her mind, the few minutes in which they continued together, were some of the most uncomfortable of her life. View more context for this quotation
1847 C. Brontë Jane Eyre III. ii. 71 I had half-forgotten my own wretched position: now it recurred to me. More desolate, more desperate than ever, it seemed from contrast.
1876 ‘L. Carroll’ Hunting of Snark v. 58 The song of the Jubjub recurred to their minds, And cemented their friendship for ever!
1900 J. Conrad Lord Jim xix. 214 The position struck me as hopeless, and poor Brierly's saying recurred to me.
1950 ‘C. S. Forester’ Mr. Midshipman Hornblower ii By the time he had towelled himself into something like warmth and put on the captain's best suit it recurred to him; the brig was groaning as if in stress.
1990 R. Goddard Into Blue (BNC) 223 Betrayal, the theme that had first entered Harry's head in Burford, recurred to his mind now.
b. intransitive. Without prepositional complement. Now chiefly of dreams.
ΚΠ
1690 J. Locke Ess. Humane Understanding ii. xix. 111 The same Idea, when it again recurrs without the operation of the like Object on the external [printed eternal] Sensory, is Remembrance.
1711 Ld. Shaftesbury Characteristicks III. Misc. iv. i. 197 The Thought it-self will of necessity..the oftner recur.
1721 E. Young Revenge v. ii Heav'ns! And yet a thousand things recur that swear it.
1785 W. Cowper Task vi. 13 Wherever I have heard A kindred melody, the scene recurs, And with it all its pleasures and its pains.
1806 Ld. Byron Childish Recoll. 28 Oft does my heart indulge the rising thought, Which still recurs.
1855 Ld. Tennyson Will 14 Acted crime, Or seeming-genial venial fault, Recurring and suggesting still!
1933 V. Brittain Test. of Youth vi. 273 I had the first of those dreams which were to recur..at frequent intervals for nearly ten years.
1961 J. Carew Last Barbarian 143 I dream one dream, it keeps recurring.
2007 Times & Transcript (New Brunswick) (Nexis) 3 Mar. e1 For some, unpleasant dreams or nightmares recur repeatedly.
6.
a. intransitive. Of a question, problem, etc.: to come up again for consideration; to present itself again.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > frequency > [verb (intransitive)] > present itself or crop up again
recura1653
a1653 W. Lyford 3 Serm. (1654) 4 The question will still recurre, who shall judge of the right?
1712 R. Blackmore Creation i. 27 Meer Disposition, meer Mechanic Art, Can never Motion to the Globes impart: And if they could, the Marks of wise Design In that Contrivance would conspicuous shine. These Questions still recur, we still demand, What moves them first, and puts them off at Hand?
1732 G. Berkeley Alciphron II. vii. xxii. 183 But still, the Question recurs, whether Man be Free?
1828 I. D'Israeli Comm. Life Charles I I. vi. 202 These critical difficulties were perpetually recurring.
1841–8 F. Myers Catholic Thoughts II. iii. §36. 129 The constant..question will from time to time recur.
1915 W. S. Maugham Of Human Bondage lxxxvi. 449 Finally the question recurred, but flung now like a challenging gauntlet in the lists.
2006 Daily Tel. (Nexis) 5 July (City section) 2 Every M&A boom is different. But..the same question recurs: do takeovers add any value?
b. intransitive. Of a theory, statement, etc.: to occur again or repeatedly in the course of a book, essay, argument, etc.
ΚΠ
1659 H. More Immortality of Soul ii. vi. 175 All the Arguments that are brought Chap. 2 Sec. 3 [sic] will recur with full force in this place.
1697 J. Sergeant Solid Philos. 128 Some few Reflexions, which I shall touch on slightly, or omit, because they recurr hereafter.
1715 F. Grant Law, Relig., & Educ. ii. 4 Unbelief might be left inexcusable, and convicted of wilful Obstinacy;..which will recur to be noticed hereafter.
1798 T. Green Exam. New Syst. Morals 32 Let the real cause of our moral sentiments be what it may (we shall recur to this cause hereafter).
1814 W. Scott Waverley I. xii. 159 All this pressed on his mind; yet the original statement recurred with the same irresistible force. View more context for this quotation
1863 Sat. Rev. 4 July 24/2 In every part of the book two thoughts are continually recurring.
1920 D. H. Lawrence Lost Girl xiii. 316 Atavism! The word recurred curiously.
2002 R. Polonsky in K. J. Hayes Cambr. Compan. Edgar Allan Poe 51 ‘Effect’ is, indeed, a keyword in Poe's theoretical work. It recurs throughout his critical writings.
Derivatives
reˈcurring n. rare recurrence; something which recurs; spec. a memory that comes back to the mind.In quot. 1577: = recurrence n. 5.
ΚΠ
1577 R. Willes & R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Hist. Trauayle W. & E. Indies Preambles f. 5 A certayne citie named Saim, situate vpon the riuer of Nilus, where the diuision and recurryng of the riuer, maketh the Ilande Delta.
1668 Bp. J. Wilkins Ess. Real Char. ii. vii. 187 Recurring of it [sc. an event]; many: or few times.
1751 S. Richardson Clarissa (ed. 3) VI. lxxiii. 312 Recurrings there will be; hankerings that will, on every but remotely-favourable incident..pop up.
1876 H. Melville Clarel II. iv. vi. 465 Those dim recurrings in the mind.
1997 Church Hist. 66 431 Rattue stresses the vast geographic range of hydrolatry and the recurring of motifs.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2009; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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