from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Return \Re*turn"\, v. t.
1. To bring, carry, send, or turn, back; as, to return a
borrowed book, or a hired horse.
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Both fled attonce, ne ever back returned eye.
--Spenser.
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2. To repay; as, to return borrowed money.
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3. To give in requital or recompense; to requite.
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The Lord shall return thy wickedness upon thine own
head. --1 Kings ii.
44.
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4. To give back in reply; as, to return an answer; to return
thanks.
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5. To retort; to throw back; as, to return the lie.
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If you are a malicious reader, you return upon me,
that I affect to be thought more impartial than I
am. --Dryden.
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6. To report, or bring back and make known.
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And all the people answered together, . . . and
Moses returned the words of the people unto the
Lord. --Ex. xix. 8.
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7. To render, as an account, usually an official account, to
a superior; to report officially by a list or statement;
as, to return a list of stores, of killed or wounded; to
return the result of an election.
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8. Hence, to elect according to the official report of the
election officers. [Eng.]
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9. To bring or send back to a tribunal, or to an office, with
a certificate of what has been done; as, to return a writ.
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10. To convey into official custody, or to a general
depository.
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Instead of a ship, he should levy money, and return
the same to the treasurer for his majesty's use.
--Clarendon.
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11. (Tennis) To bat (the ball) back over the net.
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12. (Card Playing) To lead in response to the lead of one's
partner; as, to return a trump; to return a diamond for a
club.
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{To return a lead} (Card Playing), to lead the same suit led
by one's partner.
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Syn: To restore; requite; repay; recompense; render; remit;
report.
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