Return

Re-tŭrn′, v. i. [imp. & p. p. RETURNED; p. pr. & vb. n. RETURNING.] [Fr. retourner, Pr., Sp., & Pg. retornar, It. ritornare, from re, again, back, and Fr. tourner, Pr., Sp., & Pg. tornar, It. & Lat. tornare, to turn, q. v.]

1Sense 1. To turn back; to go or come again to the same place or condition.

On their embattled ranks the waves return. Milton.

2Sense 2. Hence, to come again, as a visitor.

Thou to mankind Be good and friendly still, and oft return. Milton.

3Sense 3. To appear or begin again after an interval, regular or irregular.

With the year Seasons return; but not to me returns Day, or the sweet approach of even or morn. Milton.

4Sense 4. To answer; to reply.

He said, and thus the queen of heaven returned. Pope.

5Sense 5. To retort; to recriminate.

If you are a malicious reader, you return upon me that I affect to be thought more impartial than I am. Dryden.

v. t. 1. To bring, carry, or send back; as, to return a borrowed book; to return a hired horse.

2Sense 2. To repay; as, to return borrowed money.

3Sense 3. To requite or recompense.

The Lord shall return thy wickedness upon thine own head. 1 Kings ii. 44.

4Sense 4. To give back in reply; as, to return an answer.

5Sense 5. To report, or bring back and make known.

Moses returned the words of the people unto the Lord. Ex. xix. 8.

6Sense 6. To render, as an account, usually an official account, to a superior; to report officially; as, to return a list of stores, of killed or wounded.

7Sense 7. To render back to a tribunal, or to an office; as, to return a writ or an execution.

8Sense 8. To convey into official custody, or to a general depository.

Instead of a ship, he should levy money, and return the same to the treasurer for his majesty’s use. Clarendon.

Synonyms—To restore; requite; repay; recompense; render; remit; report.—RETURN, RESTORE. We return a thing when we turn it back to its appropriate place; we restore a thing when we put it back to its former state and condition. A man returns what he borrowed, and restores what he stole. A present is returned; a deposit is restored. We are restored to health by being brought back to our former state.

Who knows But God hath set before us to return thee Home to thy country and his sacred house? Milton.

She lands him on his native shores, And to his father’s longing arms restores. Dryden.

n. 1. The act of returning (intransitive) or coming back to the same place or condition; as, the return of one long absent; the return of health; the return of the seasons, or of an anniversary.

At the return of the year, the king of Syria will come up. 1 Kings xx. 22.

Something since his going forth is thought of, That his return was now most necessary. Shak.

2Sense 2. The act of returning (transitive) or sending back to the same place or condition; restitution; repayment; requital; retribution; as, the return of any thing borrowed, as a book or money.

You made my liberty your late request: Is no return due from a grateful breast? Dryden.

3Sense 3. That which is returned; as, (a.) A payment; a remittance; a requital.

Within two months I do expect return Of twice three times the value of this bond. Shak.

(b.) An answer; as, a return to one's question. (c.) An account, or formal report, of an action performed, of a duty discharged, of facts or statistics, and the like; as, election returns; a return of the amount of goods produced or sold; especially, in the plural, a set of tabulated statistics prepared for general information. (d.) The profit on labor, on an investment, undertaking, adventure, and the like.

The fruit from many days of recreation is very little, but from the few hours we spend in prayer, the return is great. Bp. Taylor.

4Sense 4. (pl.) A light-colored kind of tobacco, of a mild quality. Simmonds.

5Sense 5. (Arch.) The continuation of a molding, projection, &c., in a different or opposite direction; a side or part which falls away from the front of a straight work. Gwilt.

6Sense 6. (Law.) The rendering back or delivery of a writ, precept, or execution, to the proper officer or court; or the certificate of the officer, stating what he has done in execution of it, indorsed. The sheriff, or his subordinate officers, make return of all writs and precepts. The same language is used for the sending back of a commission with the certificate of the commissioners.

7Sense 7. A day in bank. The day on which the defendant is ordered to appear in court, and the sheriff is to bring in the writ and report his proceedings, is called the return of the writ. Blackstone.

8Sense 8. (Mil. & Naval.) An official account, report, or statement, rendered to the commander or other superior; as, the return of men fit for duty; the return of the number of the sick; the return of provisions, ammunition, &c.

Return-chaise, a chaise going back empty from a post-station.

v. t. [Prefix re and turn.] To turn again, or in the contrary direction; to reverse. Bulwer.