Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Recruit?

\Re*cruit"\ (r?*kr?t"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Recruited}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Recruiting}.] [F. recruter, corrupted (under influence of recrue recruiting, recruit, from recro[^i]/tre, p. p. recr[^u], to grow again) from an older recluter, properly, to patch, to mend (a garment); pref. re- + OF. clut piece, piece of cloth; cf. Icel. kl[=u]tr kerchief, E. clout.] 1. To repair by fresh supplies, as anything wasted; to remedy lack or deficiency in; as, food recruits the flesh; fresh air and exercise recruit the spirits. Her cheeks glow the brighter, recruiting their color. --Glanvill. 2. Hence, to restore the wasted vigor of; to renew in strength or health; to reinvigorate. 3. To supply with new men, as an army; to fill up or make up by enlistment; as, he recruited two regiments; the army was recruited for a campaign; also, to muster; to enlist; as, he recruited fifty men. --M. Arnold.
\Re*cruit"\, v. i. 1. To gain new supplies of anything wasted; to gain health, flesh, spirits, or the like; to recuperate; as, lean cattle recruit in fresh pastures. 2. To gain new supplies of men for military or other service; to raise or enlist new soldiers; to enlist troops.
\Re*cruit"\, n. 1. A supply of anything wasted or exhausted; a re["e]nforcement. The state is to have recruits to its strength, and remedies to its distempers. --Burke. 2. Specifically, a man enlisted for service in the army; a newly enlisted soldier.