recur

Etymology

From Latin recurrō (“run back”).

verb

1. (intransitive) To happen again.
   The theme of the prodigal son recurs later in the third act.
   The oculist had warned him that the trouble might recur, that he ought to have remained under observation. Well, it had recurred about four months ago. 1928, Radclyffe Hall, chapter 52, in The Well of Loneliness, New York: Covici Friede, published 1932, page 477
   […] in our poetry and folk songs intoxication occupies a recurring role as a facilitator of love and spiritual enlightenment. 2007, Mohsin Hamid, chapter 4, in The Reluctant Fundamentalist, Toronto: Bond Street Books, page 54
2. To come to the mind again.
   […] they have so deep a resentment [[Unsupported titles/`lsqb`i.e.#English|[i.e.]] impression] of the most affecting objects, whose images therefore recur to the fancy when they are asleep 1665, John Spencer, chapter 6, in A Discourse Concerning Vulgar Prophecies, London: Timothy Garthwait, page 101
   1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, Dublin: John Smith, Volume 3, Book 13, Chapter 2, p. 9, […] he had heard that a Cousin of Sophia was married to a Gentleman of that Name. This, however, in the present Tumult of his Mind, never once recurred to his Memory:
   […] I had half-forgotten my own wretched position: now it recurred to me. 1847, Charlotte Brontë, chapter 2, in Jane Eyre, volume 3, London: Smith, Elder, page 71
   An image from the dream recurred to him. 1992, Kim Stanley Robinson, Red Mars, New York: Bantam, published 1993, Part 7, p. 472
3. (dated) To speak, write or think about something again; to return or go back (to a subject).
   Again am I recurring to a subject I wish to quit. But since I cannot, I will give my pen its course—Pen, take thy course. 1753, Samuel Richardson, The History of Sir Charles Grandison, Dublin, Volume 5, Letter 33, p. 211
   He was in high spirits; as ready to talk and laugh as ever, and seemed delighted to speak of his former visit, and recur to old stories: 1815, Jane Austen, chapter 1, in Emma, volume 3, London: John Murray, page 3
   I’m sorry to say any ill of your friends, and the thing was a long time ago; besides which there was nothing to make me recur to it. 1904, Henry James, chapter 34, in The Golden Bowl, volume 2, New York: Scribner, page 204
   Over the last few days her mind had time and again recurred to these elusive beings and those few elusive comments. 1993, Vikram Seth, chapter 3, in A Suitable Boy, London: Phoenix, published 1994, page 171
4. (obsolete) To go back to using or doing something.
   I contrived for some time to carry on something like a conversation with this woman, but was soon glad to put an end to it by recurring to my bottle. 1796, John Stedman, chapter 1, in Narrative of a Five Years’ Expedition,, volume 1, London: J. Johnson, page 20
5. (obsolete) To have recourse (to someone or something) for assistance, support etc.; to turn or appeal to (someone or something).
   1609, Richard Smith, The Prudentiall Ballance of Religion, Saint-Omer: François Bellet, Book 1, Chapter 4, p. 29, to shew vs by our first Apostle what account we should make of the resolution of the Sea Apostolick, and […] in all difficulties recur to her
   The barbarian […] acts from affections unacquainted with forms; and when provoked, or when engaged in disputes, he recurs to the sword, as the ultimate means of decision, in all questions of right. 1767, Adam Ferguson, An Essay on the History of Civil Society, Dublin: Boulter Grierson, Part 3, Section 2, pp. 181-182
   She only replied with a laugh, and he evidently deemed futile the bid for sympathy on the score of religious or irreligious fellowship, for he recurred to it no more. 1891, Mary Noailles Murfree, In the "Stranger People's" Country, Nebraska, published 2005, page 43
6. (obsolete) To go to a location again; to return (to a place).
   Cycle of the Sun is the revolution of 28 years, Cycle of the Moon the revolution of 19 years, in which time both of their motions recur to the same point. 1658, Edward Phillips, The New World of English Words, London: Nath. Brooke
   1667, Edward Waterhouse, A Short Narrative of the Late Dreadful Fire in London, London: Richard Thrale et al., p. 133, […] in the body natural the amputation and dock of one member forces the bloud and spirits that therein reside when fixed, to recur to the heart, and there to succour it in the absence of that part […]
7. (intransitive, computing) To recurse.