Reclaim
(Re*claim") v. t. [imp. & p. p. Reclaimed (-klamd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Reclaiming.] [F. réclamer,
L. reclamare, reclamatum, to cry out against; pref. re- re- + clamare to call or cry aloud. See Claim.]
1. To call back, as a hawk to the wrist in falconry, by a certain customary call. Chaucer.
2. To call back from flight or disorderly action; to call to, for the purpose of subduing or quieting.
The headstrong horses hurried Octavius . . . along, and were deaf to his reclaiming them.
Dryden. 3. To reduce from a wild to a tamed state; to bring under discipline; — said especially of birds trained for
the chase, but also of other animals. "An eagle well reclaimed." Dryden.
4. Hence: To reduce to a desired state by discipline, labor, cultivation, or the like; to rescue from being
wild, desert, waste, submerged, or the like; as, to reclaim wild land, overflowed land, etc.
5. To call back to rectitude from moral wandering or transgression; to draw back to correct deportment or
course of life; to reform.
It is the intention of Providence, in all the various expressions of his goodness, to reclaim mankind.
Rogers. 6. To correct; to reform; — said of things. [Obs.]
Your error, in time reclaimed, will be venial.
Sir E. Hoby. 7. To exclaim against; to gainsay. [Obs.] Fuller.
Syn. — To reform; recover; restore; amend; correct.
Reclaim
(Re*claim") v. i.
1. To cry out in opposition or contradiction; to exclaim against anything; to contradict; to take exceptions.
Scripture reclaims, and the whole Catholic church reclaims, and Christian ears would not hear it.
Waterland.
At a later period Grote reclaimed strongly against Mill's setting Whately above Hamilton.
Bain. 2. To bring anyone back from evil courses; to reform.
They, hardened more by what might most reclaim,
Grieving to see his glory, . . . took envy.
Milton. 3. To draw back; to give way. [R. & Obs.] Spenser.
Reclaim
(Re*claim"), n. The act of reclaiming, or the state of being reclaimed; reclamation; recovery.
[Obs.]
Reclaimable
(Re*claim"a*ble) a. That may be reclaimed.
Reclaimant
(Re*claim"ant) n. [Cf. F. réclamant, p. pr.] One who reclaims; one who cries out against or
contradicts. Waterland.
Reclaimer
(Re*claim"er) n. One who reclaims.
Reclaimless
(Re*claim"less), a. That can not be reclaimed.
Reclamation
(Rec`la*ma"tion) n. [F. réclamation, L. reclamatio. See Reclaim.]
