from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Collect \Col*lect"\ (k[o^]l*l[e^]kt"), v. t. [imp. & p. p.
{Collected}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Collecting}.] [L. collecrus, p.
p. of collerige to bind together; col- + legere to gather:
cf. OF. collecter. See {Legend}, and cf. {Coil}, v. t.,
{Cull}, v. t.]
1. To gather into one body or place; to assemble or bring
together; to obtain by gathering.
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A band of men
Collected choicely from each country. --Shak.
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'Tis memory alone that enriches the mind, by
preserving what our labor and industry daily
collect. --Watts.
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2. To demand and obtain payment of, as an account, or other
indebtedness; as, to collect taxes.
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3. To infer from observed facts; to conclude from premises.
[Archaic.] --Shak.
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Which sequence, I conceive, is very ill collected.
--Locke.
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{To collect one's self}, to recover from surprise,
embarrassment, or fear; to regain self-control.
Syn: To gather; assemble; congregate; muster; accumulate;
garner; aggregate; amass; infer; deduce.
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