Re*claim" (?), v. t.
To claim back; to demand the return of as a right; to attempt to recover possession of.
A tract of land [Holland] snatched from an element perpetually reclaiming its prior occupancy.
W. Coxe.
© Webster 1913.
Re*claim" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Reclaimed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Reclaiming.] [F. r'eclamer, 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.
© Webster 1913.
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.
© Webster 1913.
Re*claim", n.
The act of reclaiming, or the state of being reclaimed; reclamation; recovery.
[Obs.]
© Webster 1913.