Recruit | Webster's Dictionary (1865)

Re-cruīt′, v. t.

verbtransitive

(re-krūt′), v. t. [imp. & p. p. RECRUITED; p. pr. & vb. n. RECRUITING.] [Fr. recruter, from recroître, p. p. recrû, to grow again, fr. re, again, and croître, to grow; Lat. crescere, Sp. reclutar, Pg. reclutar or recrutar, It. reclutare.]

Sense 1. To repair by fresh supplies, as any thing wasted; to supply lack or deficiency in; as, food recruits the flesh; fresh air and exercise recruit the spirits.

Her cheeks glow the brighter, recruiting their color. Glanville.

Sense 2. Hence, to restore the wasted vigor of; to renew in strength or health; to re-invigorate.

Sense 3. To supply with new men, as an army; to fill up or make up by enlistment.

Synonyms—To repair; recover; regain; retrieve.

Re-crūit′, v. i.

verbintransitive

v. i. 1. To gain new supplies of any thing wasted; to gain flesh, health, spirits, and the like; as, lean cattle recruit in fresh pastures. 2. To gain new supplies of men for military or other service; to raise new soldiers; to enlist troops.

Re-cr'uit', n.

noun

(re-kr'yt'), n. [Fr. recrue, Sp. recluta, It. & Pg. recluta or recruta. See supra.] 1. Supply of any thing wasted. The state is to have recruits to its strength, and remedies to its distempers. Burke. 2. Specifically, a person enlisted to make up deficiency in an army; a newly-enlisted soldier.