I. rə̇ˈkrüt, rēˈ- also ˈrēˌ-, usu -üd.+V noun
( -s )
Etymology: French recrute, recrue, literally, regrowth, fresh growth, from recru, past participle of recroître to grow up again, from Latin recrescere, from re- + crescere to grow — more at crescent
1.
a. : a renewal of strength : a return to a previously satisfactory condition
b. : a means of recovery
2.
a. obsolete : a number of people added to or replacing a group
b. : a fresh or additional supply
3.
a. obsolete : a newly raised or additional body of soldiery
b. obsolete : a strengthening or increase of an army by reinforcements or new levies
4.
a.
(1) : a fresh levy : reinforcements — usually used in plural
(2) : a newly enlisted or drafted member of the armed services ; specifically : an enlistee or draftee of the lowest grade in the army
b. : a newcomer to a field of activity
accommodate more recruits on farms — Atlantic
find among these men good recruits for our faculties — F.N.Robinson
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: French recruter, from recrute, recrue recruit
transitive verb
1.
a.
(1) : to strengthen or supply (as an army, a military organization) with fresh or additional members : to reinforce, fill up, or make up by enlistment of personnel : muster , raise
when a nation must suddenly recruit a maximal armed force — Leonard Carmichael
recruit a regiment
(2) : to enlist as a member of an armed service
recruited 300 men in two days
b. : to increase or maintain the number of : build up : fill up
America having recruited her population largely from foreign immigrants — Katharine E. Caffrey
the party was recruited chiefly from among the farmers
c. : to hire or otherwise obtain to perform services (as on a work force or for an organization) : secure the services of
came to look for her husband who was recruited for the mines — Alan Paton
our big job was to recruit youths for future teachers — Education Digest
busy recruiting volunteer social workers
2. : to provide with what is needed (as with fresh supplies, material, efforts) to correct or prevent depletion, exhaustion, or waste : add to : repair , replenish
it was from gifts bestowed upon him … that he recruited his finances — Charles Dickens
3. : to restore the vigor or health of : invigorate anew
detach him … till he recruits his strength — Walt Whitman
come down here … to recruit yourself after an excess of work — G.B.Shaw
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to raise or enlist or attempt to raise or enlist new soldiers
both armies recruited easily
the army is not recruiting at present
b. : to raise or seek to raise new supplies of men for service and work forces
2. : to recover what has been lost or spent (as strength or health) : recuperate
Synonyms: see recover