I. rə̇ˈkəv(ə)rē, rēˈ-, -ri noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle English, perhaps from Middle French recovree, from recoverer to recover + -ee -y
1. obsolete : means of restoration : cure , remedy
2.
a. : the obtaining in a suit at law of a right to something by a verdict, decree, or judgment of court
b. : common recovery
3.
a. : the action of regaining an upright position after curtseying
b. : a movement sequence in dance technique for rising after a fall
c. : the action of regaining the position of guard after making an attack in fencing or sparring
d. : the action following the completion of a rowing stroke in which the blade is raised and feathered and readied for the next stroke
e. : a golf stroke played from the rough or a trap to the green or fairway
4. : the act of regaining or returning toward a normal or usual state
recovery from a heart attack
recovery from childbirth
recovery in the bond market
5. : a period of economic upturn following a depression
6.
a. : the recovering of useful material from spent products or waste
recovery of solvents used for dry cleaning
recovery of aluminum from loose scrap
b. : the amount of metal or valuable substance obtained in a process of ore treatment expressed sometimes as a percentage of the metal originally in the ore
7. : removal of residual stress from cold worked metal by low-temperature annealing
II. noun
Usage: often attributive
: the process of combating a disorder (as alcoholism) or a real or perceived problem
a workaholic in recovery