receiving

1 definition found

receiving - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Receive \Re*ceive"\ (r[-e]*s[=e]v"), v. t. [imp. & p. p.
     Received (r[-e]*s[=e]vd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Receiving.]
     [OF. receveir, recevoir, F. recevoir, fr. L. recipere; pref.
     re- re- + capere to take, seize. See Capable, Heave, and
     cf. Receipt, Reception, Recipe.]
     1. To take, as something that is offered, given, committed,
        sent, paid, or the like; to accept; as, to receive money
        offered in payment of a debt; to receive a gift, a
        message, or a letter.
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              Receyven all in gree that God us sent. --Chaucer.
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     2. Hence: To gain the knowledge of; to take into the mind by
        assent to; to give admission to; to accept, as an opinion,
        notion, etc.; to embrace.
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              Our hearts receive your warnings.     --Shak.
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              The idea of solidity we receive by our touch.
                                                    --Locke.
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     3. To allow, as a custom, tradition, or the like; to give
        credence or acceptance to.
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              Many other things there be which they have received
              to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots. --Mark
                                                    vii. 4.
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     4. To give admittance to; to permit to enter, as into one's
        house, presence, company, and the like; as, to receive a
        lodger, visitor, ambassador, messenger, etc.
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              They kindled a fire, and received us every one.
                                                    --Acts xxviii.
                                                    2.
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     5. To admit; to take in; to hold; to contain; to have
        capacity for; to be able to take in.
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              The brazen altar that was before the Lord was too
              little to receive the burnt offerings. --1 Kings
                                                    viii. 64.
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     6. To be affected by something; to suffer; to be subjected
        to; as, to receive pleasure or pain; to receive a wound or
        a blow; to receive damage.
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              Against his will he can receive no harm. --Milton.
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     7. To take from a thief, as goods known to be stolen.
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     8. (Lawn Tennis) To bat back (the ball) when served.
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     Receiving ship, one on board of which newly recruited
        sailors are received, and kept till drafted for service.
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     Syn: To accept; take; allow; hold; retain; admit.
  
     Usage: Receive, Accept. To receive describes simply the
            act of taking. To accept denotes the taking with
            approval, or for the purposes for which a thing is
            offered. Thus, we receive a letter when it comes to
            hand; we receive news when it reaches us; we accept a
            present when it is offered; we accept an invitation to
            dine with a friend.
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                  Who, if we knew
                  What we receive, would either not accept
                  Life offered, or soon beg to lay it down.
                                                    --Milton.
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