reclaim

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)
reclaim
    v 1: claim back [syn: {reclaim}, {repossess}]
    2: reuse (materials from waste products) [syn: {reclaim},
       {recover}]
    3: bring, lead, or force to abandon a wrong or evil course of
       life, conduct, and adopt a right one; "The Church reformed
       me"; "reform your conduct" [syn: {reform}, {reclaim},
       {regenerate}, {rectify}]
    4: make useful again; transform from a useless or uncultivated
       state; "The people reclaimed the marshes"
    5: overcome the wildness of; make docile and tractable; "He
       tames lions for the circus"; "reclaim falcons" [syn:
       {domesticate}, {domesticize}, {domesticise}, {reclaim},
       {tame}]
    
from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Reclaim \Re*claim"\ (r[-e]*kl[=a]m"), v. i.
   1. To cry out in opposition or contradiction; to exclaim
      against anything; to contradict; to take exceptions.
      [1913 Webster]

            Scripture reclaims, and the whole Catholic church
            reclaims, and Christian ears would not hear it.
                                                  --Waterland.
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            At a later period Grote reclaimed strongly against
            Mill's setting Whately above Hamilton. --Bain.
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   2. To bring anyone back from evil courses; to reform.
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            They, hardened more by what might most reclaim,
            Grieving to see his glory, . . . took envy.
                                                  --Milton.
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   3. To draw back; to give way. [R. & Obs.] --Spenser.
      [1913 Webster]
    
from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Reclaim \Re*claim"\ (r[=e]*kl[=a]m"), v. t.
   To claim back; to demand the return of as a right; to attempt
   to recover possession of.
   [1913 Webster]

         A tract of land [Holland] snatched from an element
         perpetually reclaiming its prior occupancy. --W. Coxe.
   [1913 Webster]
    
from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Reclaim \Re*claim"\ (r[-e]*kl[=a]m"), v. t. [imp. & p. p.
   {Reclaimed} (r[-e]*kl[=a]md"); p. pr. & vb. n. {Reclaiming}.]
   [F. r['e]clamer, 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.
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   2. To call back from flight or disorderly action; to call to,
      for the purpose of subduing or quieting.
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            The headstrong horses hurried Octavius . . . along,
            and were deaf to his reclaiming them. --Dryden.
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   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.
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   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.
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   5. To call back to rectitude from moral wandering or
      transgression; to draw back to correct deportment or
      course of life; to reform.
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            It is the intention of Providence, in all the
            various expressions of his goodness, to reclaim
            mankind.                              --Rogers.
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   6. To correct; to reform; -- said of things. [Obs.]
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            Your error, in time reclaimed, will be venial. --Sir
                                                  E. Hoby.
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   7. To exclaim against; to gainsay. [Obs.] --Fuller.
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   Syn: To reform; recover; restore; amend; correct.
        [1913 Webster]
    
from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Reclaim \Re*claim"\, n.
   The act of reclaiming, or the state of being reclaimed;
   reclamation; recovery. [Obs.]
   [1913 Webster]
    
from Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)
RECLAIM. To demand again, to insist upon a right; as, when a defendant for a 
consideration received from the plaintiff, has covenanted to do an act, and 
fails to do it, the plaintiff may bring covenant for the breach, or 
assumpsit to reclaim the consideration. 1 Caines, 47. 
    
from Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
74 Moby Thesaurus words for "reclaim":
      abet, aid, amend, assist, avail, bail out, bear a hand, befriend,
      benefit, comfort, do good, doctor, ease, favor, get back,
      give a boost, give a hand, give a lift, give help, help,
      lend a hand, lend one aid, new-model, proffer aid, protect, rally,
      ransom, re-form, recapture, recondition, reconstruct, recoup,
      recover, recuperate, recycle, redeem, reeducate, refashion, reform,
      regain, regenerate, rehabilitate, reinstruct, rejuvenate, relieve,
      remedy, remodel, render assistance, renew, renovate, reoccupy,
      repatriate, replevin, replevy, repossess, rescue, reshape,
      restitute, restore, restore self-respect, resume, resuscitate,
      retake, retrieve, revindicate, revive, salvage, save, set straight,
      set up, succor, take back, take in tow, win back

    

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