Reclaim

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ɹɪˈkleɪm/, /ɹiːˈkleɪm/, /ˈɹiːkleɪm/
• Rhymes: -eɪm

Origin

From Anglo-Norman reclaimer (noun recleim), Middle French reclamer (noun reclaim), from Latin reclāmāre.

Full definition of reclaim

Verb

1. (to return land to a suitable condition)(transitive) To return land to a suitable condition for use.
2. (transitive) To obtain useful products from waste; to recycle.
3. (transitive) To return someone to a proper course of action, or correct an error; to reform.
• MiltonThey, hardened more by what might most reclaim,
  Grieving to see his glory ... took envy.
• RogersIt is the intention of Providence, in all the various expressions of his goodness, to reclaim mankind.
• Sir E. HobyYour error, in time reclaimed, will be venial.
4. (transitive) To claim something back; to repossess.
5. (transitive) To tame or domesticate a wild animal.
• Drydenan eagle well reclaimed
6. To call back from flight or disorderly action; to call to, for the purpose of subduing or quieting.
• DrydenThe headstrong horses hurried Octavius ... along, and were deaf to his reclaiming them.
7. To cry out in opposition or contradiction; to exclaim against anything; to contradict; to take exceptions.
• WaterlandScripture reclaims, and the whole Catholic church reclaims, and Christian ears would not hear it.
• BainAt a later period Grote reclaimed strongly against Mill's setting Whately above Hamilton.
8. (obsolete, rare) To draw back; to give way.

Noun

1. (obsolete, falconry) The calling back of a hawk.
2. (obsolete) The bringing back or recalling of a person; the fetching of someone back.
• 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, III.x:The louing couple need no reskew feare,
  But leasure had, and libertie to frame
  Their purpost flight, free from all mens reclame ....
3. An effort to take something back, to reclaim something.

Anagrams

• claimer
• miracle