RECIPROCATE


Meaning of RECIPROCATE in English

/ rɪˈsɪprəkeɪt; NAmE / verb

1.

reciprocate (sth) (with sth) to behave or feel towards sb in the same way as they behave or feel towards you :

[ vn ]

Her passion for him was not reciprocated.

He smiled but his smile was not reciprocated.

[ v ]

I wasn't sure whether to laugh or to reciprocate with a remark of my own.

2.

[ v ] ( technical ) to move backwards and forwards in a straight line :

a reciprocating action

►  re·cip·ro·ca·tion / rɪˌsɪprəˈkeɪʃn; NAmE / noun [ U ]

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WORD ORIGIN

late 16th cent.: from Latin reciprocat- moved backwards and forwards, from the verb reciprocare , from reciprocus (based on re- back + pro- forward).

Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне.