recover

Etymology 1

From Middle English recoveren, rekeveren, from Anglo-Norman recoverer and Old French recovrer, from Latin recuperāre, from earlier reciperāre. Doublet of recuperate and recoup.

verb

1. (transitive) To get back, to regain (a physical thing; in astronomy and navigation, sight of a thing or a signal).
   After days of inquiries, he finally recovered his lost wallet.
   For days telescopes surveyed the skies to recover the small asteroid.
   All the comrades of the Party must strive with maximum courage and unswerving determination, together with our compatriots of the whole country, to carry out our historic task of recovering the mainland and reshaping the Chinese nation. December 16, 1979, Ching-kuo Chiang, “Chairman Chiang Ching-kuo's Opening Address to the KMT Plenum”, in 自由中國週報 [Free China Weekly], volume XX, number 49, Taipei, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 3, column 1
2. (transitive) to salvage, to extricate, to rescue (a thing or person)
   They recovered three of the explorers very much alive, then another, wracked with severe hypothermia, who was taken to hospital.
   Network Rail doesn't expect the line through Carmont to open for around a month, as it faces the mammoth task of recovering the two power cars and four coaches from ScotRail's wrecked train, repairing bridge 325, stabilising earthworks around the landslip, and replacing the track. August 26 2020, “Network News: Mid-September before line reopens, says Network Rail”, in Rail, page 10
3. (transitive) To replenish to, resume (a good state of mind or body).
   At the top of the hill I asked to stop for a few minutes to recover my strength.
4. (intransitive, law) To obtain a positive judgement; to win in a lawsuit.
   The plaintiff recovered in his suit, being awarded declaratory relief and a clearing of his name.
5. (transitive, law) To gain as compensation or reparation, usually by formal legal process
   to recover damages in trespass; to recover debt and costs in a legal action or that is owing
   to recover lands in ejectment or common recovery
6. (transitive, obsolete) To reach (a place), arrive at.
   Except he could recover one of the Cities of Refuge he was to die. 1646, John Hales, Golden Remains of the Ever Memorable Mr. John Hales
7. (transitive, archaic) To restore to good health, consciousness, life etc.
8. (transitive, archaic) To make good by reparation; to make up for; to retrieve; to repair the loss or injury of.
   to recover lost time
   Even good men have […]many failings and lapses to lament and recover. a. 1729, John Rogers, The Difficulties of Obtaining Salvation
   21 May, 1665, Abraham Cowley, letter to Dr. Thomas Sprat I do hope to recover my late hurt.
9. (intransitive) To regain one's composure, balance etc.
   Spinning round, he caught a stone with his ankle, but recovered quickly before turning to face me.
10. (intransitive, followed by "from" to show what caused the bad feeling) To get better, to regain health or prosperity.
    I was hurt, but I knew I’d recover, given time.
    Without calling in Business Recovery experts, the company saw trade and investor confidence recover sharply in the wake of the crisis.
    I lost out in the deal, but I quickly recovered financially
    It takes time and good health to recover from injury, surgery, a bereavement and emotional turmoil
    My trip along the rest of the line is delightful. It's yet another route that has recovered from previous rationalisation by having tracks and platforms reinstated in recent years. December 2 2020, Paul Bigland, “My weirdest and wackiest Rover yet”, in Rail, page 67
11. (transitive, archaic, without "from") to recover from
    To the end of his days, he never fully recovered his daughter's death.

noun

1. (obsolete) Recovery.
2. (military) A position of holding a firearm during exercises, whereby the lock is at shoulder height and the sling facing out.
3. (dated) The forward movement in rowing, after one stroke to take another (recovery)

Etymology 2

re- + cover.

verb

1. To cover again.
2. (roofing) To add a new roof membrane or steep-slope covering over an existing one.