n. & v.
--n.
1. a serviceman or servicewoman newly enlisted and not yet fully trained.
2 a new member of a society or organization.
3 a beginner.
--v.
1. tr. enlist (a person) as a recruit.
2 tr. form (an army etc.) by enlisting recruits.
3 intr. get or seek recruits.
4 tr. replenish or reinvigorate (numbers, strength, etc.).
Derivatives:
recruitable adj. recruiter n. recruitment n.
Etymology: earlier reinforcement, f. obs. F dial. recrute ult. f. F recro{icirc}tre increase again f. L recrescere