Chapter 11

Re`as*sert" (-srt"), v. t. To assert again or anew; to maintain after an omission to do so.

Let us hope . . . we may have a body of authors who will reassert our claim to respectability in literature.

Walsh.

Re`as*ser"tion (-sr"shn), n. A second or renewed assertion of the same thing.

Re`as*sess"ment (-ss"ment), n. A renewed or second assessment.

Re`as*sign" (-sn"), v. t. To assign back or again; to transfer back what has been assigned.

Re`as*sign"ment (-ment), n. The act of reassigning.

Re`as*sim"i*late (-sm"*lt), v. t. & i. To assimilate again. -- Re`as*sim`i*la"tion (-l"shn), n.

Re`as*so"ci*ate (-s"sh*t), v. t. & i. To associate again; to bring again into close relations.

Re`as*sume" (-sm"), v. t. To assume again or anew; to resume. -- Re`as*sump"tion (- smp"shn), n.

Re`as*sur"ance (r`*shr"ans), n. 1. Assurance or confirmation renewed or repeated. Prynne.

2. (Law) Same as Reinsurance.

Re`as*sure" (r`*shr"), v. t. 1. To assure anew; to restore confidence to; to free from fear or terror.

They rose with fear, . . . Till dauntless Pallas reassured the rest.

Dryden.

2. To reinsure.

Re`as*sur"er (-r), n. One who reassures.

Reas"ty (rs"t), a. [Etymol. uncertain.] Rusty and rancid; -- applied to salt meat. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Tusser. -- Reas"ti*ness (-t*ns), n. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

||Re*a"ta (r*ä"t), n. [Sp.] A lariat.

Re`at*tach" (r`t*tch"), v. t. To attach again.

Re`at*tach"ment (-ment), n. The act of reattaching; a second attachment.

Re`at*tain" (-tn"), v. t. To attain again.

Re`at*tain"ment (-ment), n. The act of reattaining.

Re`at*tempt" (-tmt"; 215), v. t. To attempt again.

Re"aume (r"m), n. Realm. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Ré`au`mur" (r``mr"), a. Of or pertaining to René Antoine Ferchault de Réaumur; conformed to the scale adopted by Réaumur in graduating the thermometer he invented. -- n. A Réaumur thermometer or scale.

The Réaumur thermometer is so graduated that 0° marks the freezing point and 80° the boiling point of water. Frequently indicated by R. Cf. Centigrade, and Fahrenheit. See Illust. of Thermometer.

Reave (rv), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Reaved (rvd), Reft (rft), or Raft (rft) (obs.); p. pr. & vb. n. Reaving.] [AS. reáfian, from reáf spoil, plunder, clothing, reófan to break (cf. bireófan to deprive of); akin to G. rauben to rob, Icel. raufa to rob, rjfa to break, violate, Goth. biráubn to despoil, L. rumpere to break; cf. Skr. lup to break. √114. Cf. Bereave, Rob, v. t., Robe, Rove, v. i., Rupture.] To take away by violence or by stealth; to snatch away; to rob; to despoil; to bereave. [Archaic] "To reave his life." Spenser.

He golden apples raft of the dragon.

Chaucer.

If the wooers reave By privy stratagem my life at home.

Chapman.

To reave the orphan of his patrimony.

Shak.

The heathen caught and reft him of his tongue.

Tennyson.

Reav"er (rv"r), n. One who reaves. [Archaic]

Re`a*wake" (r`*wk"), v. i. To awake again.

Re*ban"ish (r*bn"sh), v. t. To banish again.

Re*bap"tism (r*bp"tz'm), n. A second baptism.

Re*bap`ti*za"tion (-t*z"shn), n. [Cf. F. rebaptisation.] A second baptism. [Obs.] Hooker.

Re`bap*tize" (r`bp*tz"), v. t. [Pref. re- + baptize: cf. F. rebaptiser, L. rebaptizare.] To baptize again or a second time.

Re`bap*tiz"er (-tz"r), n. One who rebaptizes.

Re*bar"ba*rize (r*bär"b*rz), v. t. To reduce again to barbarism. -- Re*bar`ba*ri*za"tion (-r*z"shn), n.

Germany . . . rebarbarized by polemical theology and religious wars.

Sir W. Hamilton.

Re*bate" (r*bt"), v. t. [F. rebattre to beat again; pref. re- re- + battre to beat, L. batuere to beat, strike. See Abate.] 1. To beat to obtuseness; to deprive of keenness; to blunt; to turn back the point of, as a lance used for exercise.

But doth rebate and blunt his natural edge.

Shak.

2. To deduct from; to make a discount from, as interest due, or customs duties. Blount.

Rebated cross, a cross which has the extremities of the arms bent back at right angles, as in the fylfot.

Re*bate", v. i. To abate; to withdraw. [Obs.] Foxe.

Re*bate", n. 1. Diminution.

2. (Com.) Deduction; abatement; as, a rebate of interest for immediate payment; a rebate of importation duties. Bouvier.

Re*bate", n. [See Rabbet.] 1. (Arch.) A rectangular longitudinal recess or groove, cut in the corner or edge of any body; a rabbet. See Rabbet.

2. A piece of wood hafted into a long stick, and serving to beat out mortar. Elmes.

3. An iron tool sharpened something like a chisel, and used for dressing and polishing wood. Elmes.

4. [Perhaps a different word.] A kind of hard freestone used in making pavements. [R.] Elmes.

Re*bate", v. t. To cut a rebate in. See Rabbet, v.

Re*bate"ment (-ment), n. [Cf. OF. rabatement, fr. rabatre to diminish, F. rabattre.] Same as 3d Rebate.

Re*ba"to (r*b"t), n. Same as Rabato. Burton.

Re"bec (r"bk), n. [F., fr. It. ribeca, ribeba, fr. Ar. rabb a musical instrument of a round form.] 1. (Mus.) An instrument formerly used which somewhat resembled the violin, having three strings, and being played with a bow. [Written also rebeck.] Milton.

He turn'd his rebec to a mournful note.

Drayton.

2. A contemptuous term applied to an old woman. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Reb"el (rb"l), a. [F. rebelle, fr. L. rebellis. See Rebel, v. i.] Pertaining to rebels or rebellion; acting in revolt; rebellious; as, rebel troops.

Whoso be rebel to my judgment.

Chaucer.

Convict by flight, and rebel to all law.

Milton.

Reb"el, n. [F. rebelle.] One who rebels.

Syn. -- Revolter; insurgent. -- Rebel, Insurgent. Insurgent marks an early, and rebel a more advanced, stage of opposition to government. The former rises up against his rulers, the latter makes war upon them.

Re*bel" (r*bl"), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Rebelled (-bld); p. pr. & vb. n. Rebelling.] [F. rebeller, fr. L. rebellare to make war again; pref. re- again + bellare to make war, fr. bellum war. See Bellicose, and cf. Revel to carouse.] 1. To renounce, and resist by force, the authority of the ruler or government to which one owes obedience. See Rebellion.

The murmur and the churls' rebelling.

Chaucer.

Ye have builded you an altar, that ye might rebel this day against the Lord.

Josh. xxii. 16.

2. To be disobedient to authority; to assume a hostile or insubordinate attitude; to revolt.

How could my hand rebel against my heart? How could your heart rebel against your reason?

Dryden.

Reb"el*dom (rb"l*dm), n. A region infested by rebels; rebels, considered collectively; also, conduct or quality characteristic of rebels. Thackeray.

Re*bel"ler (r*bl"lr), n. One who rebels; a rebel.

Re*bel"lion (r*bl"yn), n. [F. rébellion, L. rebellio. See Rebel, v. i. Among the Romans rebellion was originally a revolt or open resistance to their government by nations that had been subdued in war. It was a renewed war.] 1. The act of rebelling; open and avowed renunciation of the authority of the government to which one owes obedience, and resistance to its officers and laws, either by levying war, or by aiding others to do so; an organized uprising of subjects for the purpose of coercing or overthrowing their lawful ruler or government by force; revolt; insurrection.

No sooner is the standard of rebellion displayed than men of desperate principles resort to it.

Ames.

2. Open resistance to, or defiance of, lawful authority.

Commission of rebellion (Eng. Law), a process of contempt issued on the nonappearance of a defendant, -- now abolished. Wharton. Burrill.

Syn. -- Insurrection; sedition; revolt; mutiny; resistance; contumacy. See Insurrection.

Re*bel"lious (r*bl"ys), a. Engaged in rebellion; disposed to rebel; of the nature of rebels or of rebellion; resisting government or lawful authority by force. "Thy rebellious crew." "Proud rebellious arms." Milton. -- Re*bel"lious*ly, adv. -- Re*bel"lious*ness, n.

Re*bel"low (r*bl"l), v. i. To bellow again; to repeat or echo a bellow.

The cave rebellowed, and the temple shook.

Dryden.

Re*bit"ing (r*bt"ng), n. (Etching) The act or process of deepening worn lines in an etched plate by submitting it again to the action of acid. Fairholt.

Re*bloom" (r*blm"), v. i. To bloom again. Crabbe.

Re*blos"som (r*bls"sm), v. i. To blossom again.

Re*bo"ant (r*b"ant), a. [L. reboans, p. pr. of reboare; pref. re- re- + boare to cry aloud.] Rebellowing; resounding loudly. [R.] Mrs. Browning.

Re`bo*a"tion (r`b*"shn), n. Repetition of a bellow. [R.] Bp. Patrick.

Re*boil" (r*boil"), v. t. & i. [Pref. re- + boil: cf. F. rebouillir.] 1. To boil, or to cause to boil, again.

2. Fig.: To make or to become hot. [Obs.]

Some of his companions thereat reboyleth.

Sir T. Elyot.

Re*born" (r*bôrn"), p. p. Born again.

Re*bound" (r*bound"), v. i. [Pref. re- + bound: cf. F. rebondir.] 1. To spring back; to start back; to be sent back or reverberated by elastic force on collision with another body; as, a rebounding echo.

Bodies which are absolutely hard, or so soft as to be void of elasticity, will not rebound from one another.

Sir I. Newton.

2. To give back an echo. [R.] T. Warton.

3. To bound again or repeatedly, as a horse. Pope.

Rebounding lock (Firearms), one in which the hammer rebounds to half cock after striking the cap or primer.

Re*bound", v. t. To send back; to reverberate.

Silenus sung; the vales his voice rebound.

Dryden.

Re*bound", n. The act of rebounding; resilience.

Flew . . . back, as from a rock, with swift rebound.

Dryden.

Re*brace" (r*brs"), v. t. To brace again. Gray.

Re*breathe" (r*brth"), v. t. To breathe again.

Re*bu"cous (r*b"ks), a. Rebuking. [Obs.]

She gave unto him many rebucous words.

Fabyan.

Re*buff" (r*bf"), n. [It. ribuffo, akin to ribuffare to repulse; pref. ri- (L. re-) + buffo puff. Cf. Buff to strike, Buffet a blow.] 1. Repercussion, or beating back; a quick and sudden resistance.

The strong rebuff of some tumultuous cloud.

Milton.

2. Sudden check; unexpected repulse; defeat; refusal; repellence; rejection of solicitation.

Re*buff", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rebuffed (r*bft"); p. pr. & vb. n. Rebuffing.] To beat back; to offer sudden resistance to; to check; to repel or repulse violently, harshly, or uncourteously.

Re*build" (r*bld"), v. t. To build again, as something which has been demolished; to construct anew; as, to rebuild a house, a wall, a wharf, or a city.

Re*build"er (-r), n. One who rebuilds. Bp. Bull.

Re*buk"a*ble (r*bk"*b'l), a. Worthy of rebuke or reprehension; reprehensible. Shak.

Re*buke" (r*bk"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rebuked (-bkt"); p. pr. & vb. n. Rebuking.] [OF. rebouquier to dull, blunt, F. reboucher; perhaps fr. pref. re- re- + bouche mouth, OF. also bouque, L. bucca cheek; if so, the original sense was, to stop the mouth of; hence, to stop, obstruct.] To check, silence, or put down, with reproof; to restrain by expression of disapprobation; to reprehend sharply and summarily; to chide; to reprove; to admonish.

The proud he tamed, the penitent he cheered, Nor to rebuke the rich offender feared.

Dryden.

Syn. -- To reprove; chide; check; chasten; restrain; silence. See Reprove.

<! p. 1197 pr=vmg !>

Re*buke" (r*bk"), n. 1. A direct and pointed reproof; a reprimand; also, chastisement; punishment.

For thy sake I have suffered rebuke.

Jer. xv. 15.

Why bear you these rebukes and answer not?

Shak.

2. Check; rebuff. [Obs.] L'Estrange.

To be without rebuke, to live without giving cause of reproof or censure; to be blameless.

Re*buke"ful (-fl), a. Containing rebuke; of the nature of rebuke. [Obs.] -- Re*buke"ful*ly, adv. [Obs.]

Re*buk"er (-bk"r), n. One who rebukes.

Re*buk"ing*ly, adv. By way of rebuke.

Re`bul*li"tion (r`bl*lsh"n), n. The act of boiling up or effervescing. [R.] Sir H. Wotton.

Re*bur"y (r*br"r), v. t. To bury again. Ashmole.

Re"bus (r"bs), n.; pl. Rebuses (-z). [L. rebus by things, abl. pl. of res a thing: cf. F. rébus. Cf. 3d Real.] 1. A mode of expressing words and phrases by pictures of objects whose names resemble those words, or the syllables of which they are composed; enigmatical representation of words by figures; hence, a peculiar form of riddle made up of such representations.

A gallant, in love with a woman named Rose Hill, had, embroidered on his gown, a rose, a hill, an eye, a loaf, and a well, signifying, Rose Hill I love well.

2. (Her.) A pictorial suggestion on a coat of arms of the name of the person to whom it belongs. See Canting arms, under Canting.

Re"bus, v. t. To mark or indicate by a rebus.

He [John Morton] had a fair library rebused with More in text and Tun under it.

Fuller.

Re*but" (r*bt"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rebutted; p. pr. & vb. n. Rebutting.] [OF. rebouter to repulse, drive back; pref. re- + bouter to push, thrust. See 1st Butt, Boutade.] 1. To drive or beat back; to repulse.

Who him, rencount'ring fierce, as hawk in flight, Perforce rebutted back.

Spenser.

2. (Law) To contradict, meet, or oppose by argument, plea, or countervailing proof. Abbott.

Re*but", v. i. 1. To retire; to recoil. [Obs.] Spenser.

2. (Law) To make, or put in, an answer, as to a plaintiff's surrejoinder.

The plaintiff may answer the rejoinder by a surrejoinder; on which the defendant may rebut.

Blackstone.

Re*but"ta*ble (-t*b'l), a. Capable of being rebutted.

Re*but"tal (-bt"tal), n. (Law) The giving of evidence on the part of a plaintiff to destroy the effect of evidence introduced by the defendant in the same suit.

Re*but"ter (-tr), n. (Law) The answer of a defendant in matter of fact to a plaintiff's surrejoinder.

Re*ca"den*cy (r*k"den*s), n. A falling back or descending a second time; a relapse. W. Montagu.

Re*cal"ci*trant (r*kl"s*trant), a. [L. recalcitrans, p. pr. of recalcitrare to kick back; pref. re- re- + calcitrare to kick, fr. calx heel. Cf. Inculcate.] Kicking back; recalcitrating; hence, showing repugnance or opposition; refractory.

Re*cal"ci*trate (-trt), v. t. To kick against; to show repugnance to; to rebuff.

The more heartily did one disdain his disdain, and recalcitrate his tricks.

De Quincey.

Re*cal"ci*trate, v. i. To kick back; to kick against anything; hence, to express repugnance or opposition.

Re*cal`ci*tra"tion (-tr"shn), n. A kicking back again; opposition; repugnance; refractoriness.

Re*call" (r*kl"), v. t. 1. To call back; to summon to return; as, to recall troops; to recall an ambassador.

If Henry were recalled to life again.

Shak.

2. To revoke; to annul by a subsequent act; to take back; to withdraw; as, to recall words, or a decree.

Passed sentence may not be recall'd.

Shak.

3. To call back to mind; to revive in memory; to recollect; to remember; as, to recall bygone days.

Re*call", n. 1. A calling back; a revocation.

'T is done, and since 't is done, 't is past recall.

Dryden.

2. (Mil.) A call on the trumpet, bugle, or drum, by which soldiers are recalled from duty, labor, etc. Wilhelm.

Re*call"a*ble (-*b'l), a. Capable of being recalled.

Re*call"ment (-ment), n. Recall. [R.] R. Browning.

Re*cant" (r*knt"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Recanted; p. pr. & vb. n. Recanting.] [L. recantare, recantatum, to recall, recant; pref. re- re- + cantare to sing, to sound. See 3d Cant, Chant.] To withdraw or repudiate formally and publicly (opinions formerly expressed); to contradict, as a former declaration; to take back openly; to retract; to recall.

How soon . . . ease would recant Vows made in pain, as violent and void!

Milton.

Syn. -- To retract; recall; revoke; abjure; disown; disavow. See Renounce.

Re*cant", v. i. To revoke a declaration or proposition; to unsay what has been said; to retract; as, convince me that I am wrong, and I will recant. Dryden.

Re`can*ta"tion (r`kn*t"shn), n. The act of recanting; a declaration that contradicts a former one; that which is thus asserted in contradiction; retraction.

The poor man was imprisoned for this discovery, and forced to make a public recantation.

Bp. Stillingfleet.

Re*cant"er (r*knt"r), n. One who recants.

Re`ca*pac"i*tate (r`k*ps"*tt), v. t. To qualify again; to confer capacity on again. Atterbury.

Re*ca*pit"u*late (-pt"*lt), v. t. [L. recapitulare, recapitulatum; pref. re- re- + capitulum a small head, chapter, section. See Capitulate.] To repeat, as the principal points in a discourse, argument, or essay; to give a summary of the principal facts, points, or arguments of; to relate in brief; to summarize.

Re`ca*pit"u*late (r`k*pt"*lt), v. i. To sum up, or enumerate by heads or topics, what has been previously said; to repeat briefly the substance.

Re`ca*pit`u*la"tion (-l"shn), n. [LL. recapitulatio: cf. F. recapitulation.] The act of recapitulating; a summary, or concise statement or enumeration, of the principal points, facts, or statements, in a preceding discourse, argument, or essay.

Re`ca*pit"u*la`tor (- pt"*l`tr), n. One who recapitulates.

Re`ca*pit"u*la*to*ry (-l*t*r), a. Of the nature of a recapitulation; containing recapitulation.

Re*cap"per (r*kp"pr), n. (Firearms) A tool used for applying a fresh percussion cap or primer to a cartridge shell in reloading it.

Re*cap"tion (r*kp"shn), n. (Law) The act of retaking, as of one who has escaped after arrest; reprisal; the retaking of one's own goods, chattels, wife, or children, without force or violence, from one who has taken them and who wrongfully detains them. Blackstone.

Writ of recaption (Law), a writ to recover damages for him whose goods, being distrained for rent or service, are distrained again for the same cause. Wharton.

Re*cap"tor (-tr), n. One who recaptures; one who takes a prize which had been previously taken.

Re*cap"ture (-tr; 135), n. 1. The act of retaking or recovering by capture; especially, the retaking of a prize or goods from a captor.

2. That which is captured back; a prize retaken.

Re*cap"ture, v. t. To capture again; to retake.

Re*car"bon*ize (r*kär"bn*z), v. t. (Metal.) To restore carbon to; as, to recarbonize iron in converting it into steel.

Re*car"ni*fy (-n*f), v. t. To convert again into flesh. [Obs.] Howell.

Re*car"riage (r*kr"rj), n. Act of carrying back.

Re*car"ry (-r), v. t. To carry back. Walton.

Re*cast" (r*kst"), v. t. 1. To throw again. Florio.

2. To mold anew; to cast anew; to throw into a new form or shape; to reconstruct; as, to recast cannon; to recast an argument or a play.

3. To compute, or cast up, a second time.

Rec"che (rk"ke), v. i. To reck. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Rec"che*les (-ls), a. Reckless. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Re*cede" (r*sd"), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Receded; p. pr. & vb. n. Receding.] [L. recedere, recessum; pref. re- re- + cedere to go, to go along: cf. F. recéder. See Cede.] 1. To move back; to retreat; to withdraw.

Like the hollow roar Of tides receding from the insulted shore.

Dryden.

All bodies moved circularly endeavor to recede from the center.

Bentley.

2. To withdraw a claim or pretension; to desist; to relinquish what had been proposed or asserted; as, to recede from a demand or proposition.

Syn. -- To retire; retreat; return; retrograde; withdraw; desist.

Re*cede" (r*sd"), v. t. [Pref. re- + cede. Cf. Recede, v. i.] To cede back; to grant or yield again to a former possessor; as, to recede conquered territory.

Re*ceipt" (r*st"), n. [OE. receite, OF. recete, recepte, F. recette, fr. L. recipere, receptum, to receive. See Receive.] 1. The act of receiving; reception. "At the receipt of your letter." Shak.

2. Reception, as an act of hospitality. [Obs.]

Thy kind receipt of me.

Chapman.

3. Capability of receiving; capacity. [Obs.]

It has become a place of great receipt.

Evelyn.

4. Place of receiving. [Obs.]

He saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom.

Matt. ix. 9.

5. Hence, a recess; a retired place. [Obs.] "In a retired receipt together lay." Chapman.

6. A formulary according to the directions of which things are to be taken or combined; a recipe; as, a receipt for making sponge cake.

She had a receipt to make white hair black.

Sir T. Browne.

7. A writing acknowledging the taking or receiving of goods delivered; an acknowledgment of money paid.

8. That which is received; that which comes in, in distinction from what is expended, paid out, sent away, and the like; -- usually in the plural; as, the receipts amounted to a thousand dollars.

Gross receipts. See under Gross, a.

Re*ceipt", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Receipted; p. pr. & vb. n. Receipting.] 1. To give a receipt for; as, to receipt goods delivered by a sheriff.

2. To put a receipt on, as by writing or stamping; as, to receipt a bill.

Re*ceipt", v. i. To give a receipt, as for money paid.

Re*ceipt"ment (-ment), n. (O. Eng. Law) The receiving or harboring a felon knowingly, after the commission of a felony. Burrill.

Re*ceipt"or (-r), n. One who receipts; specifically (Law), one who receipts for property which has been taken by the sheriff.

Re*ceit" (r*st"), n. Receipt. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Re*ceiv`a*bil"i*ty (r*sv`*bl"*t), n. The quality of being receivable; receivableness.

Re*ceiv"a*ble (r*sv"*b'l), a. [Cf. F. recevable.] Capable of being received. -- Re*ceiv"a*ble*ness, n.

Bills receivable. See under 6th Bill.

Re*ceive" (r*sv"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Received (-svd"); 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.

Receyven all in gree that God us sent.

Chaucer.

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.

Our hearts receive your warnings.

Shak.

The idea of solidity we receive by our touch.

Locke.

3. To allow, as a custom, tradition, or the like; to give credence or acceptance to.

Many other things there be which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots.

Mark vii. 4.

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.

They kindled a fire, and received us every one.

Acts xxviii. 2.

5. To admit; to take in; to hold; to contain; to have capacity for; to be able to take in.

The brazen altar that was before the Lord was too little to receive the burnt offerings.

1 Kings viii. 64.

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.

Against his will he can receive no harm.

Milton.

7. To take from a thief, as goods known to be stolen.

8. (Lawn Tennis) To bat back (the ball) when served.

Receiving ship, one on board of which newly recruited sailors are received, and kept till drafted for service.

Syn. -- To accept; take; allow; hold; retain; admit. -- 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.

Who, if we knew What we receive, would either not accept Life offered, or soon beg to lay it down.

Milton.

Re*ceive" (r*sv"), v. i. 1. To receive visitors; to be at home to receive calls; as, she receives on Tuesdays.

2. (Lawn Tennis) To return, or bat back, the ball when served; as, it is your turn to receive.

Re*ceiv"ed*ness, n. The state or quality of being received, accepted, or current; as, the receivedness of an opinion. Boyle.

Re*ceiv"er (-r), n. [Cf. F. receveur.] 1. One who takes or receives in any manner.