Re-çēive', v. t.
v. t. [imp. & p. p. RECEIVED; p. pr. & vb. n. RECEIVING.] [O. Fr. recevoir, recever, receveir, recivoir, rechevoir, rechoivre, rezoivre, N. Fr. recevoir, Pr. recebre, Pg. receber, Sp. recibir, It. ricevere, Lat. recipere, from re, again, and capere, to take, seize.]
Sense 1. To take, as something that is offered, given, committed, sent, paid, or the like; to give reception to; to accept; not to reject, repel, or turn away.
Sense 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, &c.; to embrace.
Our hearts receive your warnings. Shak.
The idea of solidity we receive by our touch. Locke.
Sense 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.
Sense 4. To give admittance to; to permit to come in in an official capacity, as an ambassador, or as an associate, a guest, or the like.
They kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold. Acts xxviii. 2.
With open breast Stand ready to receive them, if they like Our overtures. Milton.
☞ In this sense sometimes used elliptically, with omission of the object; as, a lady receives on certain days.
Sense 5. To have capacity for; to be able to take in; to hold; to contain.
The brazen altar . . . was too little to receive the burnt-offering. 1 Kings viii. 64.
Sense 6. To bear; to undergo; to suffer.
Against his will, he can receive no harm. Milton.
Sense 7. To take, as goods from a thief, knowing them to be dishonestly obtained.
Receiving-ship, one on board which newly engaged 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 cordially, 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. A lady may receive the proposal of a suitor without accepting his suit.
Who, if we knew What we receive, would either not accept Life offered, or soon beg to lay it down. Milton.