Receives

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ɹɪˈsiːvz/

Definitions

  1. To take possession of something that is sent | To be the recipient of information, approval, or an object | To acquire or get something that has been given or forwarded
  2. To obtain an item that is transmitted or delivered | To be the individual who gets information, goods, or messages | To accept or come into possession of something sent by another party
  3. To take delivery of something that has been sent To be the individual or entity designated to acquire information, goods, or messages To come into possession of an item, approval, or knowledge forwarded by someone else

Etymology: The verb in question traces its roots to the Latin verb "recipere," which means "to take back" or "to receive." This Latin term itself is a compound of "re-" meaning "back" and "capere," meaning "to take or seize." The sense of taking something into one's possession or accepting it was central to "recipere," and this core meaning carried over as the word evolved. As Latin developed into Old French, "recipere" became "receivre" or "recevoir," retaining the idea of accepting or getting something from another. English borrowed it from Old French during the Middle English period, around the 14th century. The spelling and pronunciation shifted over time, settling into the modern form with the "receive" base and the third-person singular present tense ending "-s" to form "receives." Interestingly, the word's journey shows a transition from a physical act of taking something back or into one’s hands to a broader, more abstract acceptance — as in receiving information, signals, or even abstract concepts like a reward or recognition. The original sense of physical receipt remains evident but has expanded greatly. This verb’s formation is straightforward: the base "receive" plus the "-s" suffix, which marks third person singular present tense in English verbs. Its pronunciation retains the long "ee" sound in the middle, reflecting the influence of French vowel patterns. Overall, this term exemplifies how a Latin verb traveled through medieval French into English, expanding from concrete physical actions to a wider array of accepting or obtaining experiences.

Synonyms: gets, acquires, accepts

Antonyms: sends, gives, forfeits