Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Receive \Re*ceive"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Received}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Receiving}.] [OF. receiver, recevoir, F. recevoir,
fr. L. recipere; pref. re- re- + capere to take, seize. See
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.
Receyven all in gree that God us sent. --Chaucer.
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.
Our hearts receive your warnings. --Shak.
The idea of solidity we receives by our touch.
--Locke.
3. To allow, as a custom, tradition, or the like; to give
credence or acceptance to.
Many other things there be which they have received
to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots. --Mark
vii. 4.
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.
They kindled a fire, and received us every one.
--Acts xxviii.
2.
5. To admit; to take in; to hold; to contain; to have
capacity fro; to be able to take in.
The brazen altar that was before the Lord was too
little to receive the burnt offerings. --1 Kings
viii. 64.
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.
Against his will he can receive no harm. --Milton.
7. To take from a thief, as goods known to be stolen.
8. (Lawn Tennis) To bat back (the ball) when served.
{Receiving ship}, one on board of which newly recruited
sailors are received, and kept till drafted for service.
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.
Who, if we knew What we receive, would either
not accept Life offered, or soon beg to lay it
down. --Milton.
Source : WordNet®
received
adj 1: conforming to the established language usage of educated
native speakers; "standard English" (American);
"received standard English is sometimes called the
King's English" (British) [syn: {standard}] [ant: {nonstandard}]
2: widely accepted as true or worthy; "the accepted wisdom
about old age"; "a received moral idea"; "Received
political wisdom says not; surveys show otherwise"-
Economist [syn: {accepted}]