con ‧ va ‧ lesce /ˌkɒnvəˈles $ ˌkɑːn-/ BrE AmE verb [intransitive]
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: convalescere , from com- ( ⇨ COM- ) + valescere 'to grow strong' ]
to spend time getting well after an illness SYN recover :
the time needed to convalesce after an operation
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THESAURUS
▪ recover to become healthy again after you have been seriously ill or injured, or had a bad experience:
My mother’s been very ill, and she’s still in hospital recovering.
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She needed time to recover from the shock.
▪ get better to recover from an injury or illness. In everyday English, people usually say get better rather than recover :
I hope you get better soon.
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My back’s been quite bad recently, but it’s getting better slowly.
▪ get over something to recover from a bad experience, or a minor illness. In everyday English, people usually say get over rather than recover :
She never got over his death.
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I’m getting over my cold.
▪ get well to recover from an illness or operation – used especially when you are writing to encourage someone to recover:
Get well soon – we all miss you!
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I hope you get well quickly.
▪ be back on your feet to have recovered and be able to live life as usual again:
It may take a week or two until you’re back on your feet.
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It’s great to see you back on your feet!
▪ be on the mend to be showing definite signs of recovering after an illness or injury:
I’m glad to see you’re on the mend again.
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Kathy’s been quite ill with flu, but she seems to be on the mend now.
▪ recuperate formal to spend time resting and getting your health or energy back, after you have had an illness or had a difficult or tiring experience:
It had been a hard year, and I needed a few weeks in the sun in order to recuperate.
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He is recuperating from a heart attack.
▪ convalesce /ˌkɒnvəˈles $ ˌkɑːn-/ formal to spend a long period of time recovering from a serious illness, especially by resting in a comfortable or warm place:
She was at home convalescing after major surgery.