receive

Where does the word "receive" come from? It comes from Latin recipere, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

Receive’s story begins in Latin: recipere meant “to take back, to regain.” To take back, to regain, from re- (back) and capere (to take). By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as receivre. Carried into French for accepting something given or sent. It reached English by 1200s as receive. Settled as the English word for accepting or taking in something given. Today, receive means to take in or be given something that is sent, offered, or handed over.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient recipere "to take back, to regain", to take back, to regain, from re- (back) and capere (to take).
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval receivre "to accept something given or sent", carried into French for accepting something given or sent.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1200s receive "to take in or accept something given or sent", settled as the English word for accepting or taking in something given.