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Recover vs Pursue - What's the difference?

recover | pursue |

In transitive terms the difference between recover and pursue

is that recover is to return to, resume (a given state of mind or body) while pursue is to participate in (an activity, business etc.); to practise, follow (a profession).

As a noun recover

is recovery.

recover

English

Alternative forms

* recovre (obsolete)

Etymology 1

From (etyl) recoverer and (etyl) recovrer, from (etyl) recuperare.

Verb

(en verb)
  • To get back, regain (a physical thing lost etc.).
  • * Bible, 1 Sam. xxx. 18
    • David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away.
  • * , chapter=22
    • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=Not unnaturally, “Auntie” took this communication in bad part. Thus outraged, she showed herself to be a bold as well as a furious virago. Next day she found her way to their lodgings and tried to recover her ward by the hair of the head.}}
  • To return to, resume (a given state of mind or body).
  • (obsolete) To reach (a place), arrive at.
  • * Fuller
    • With much ado the Christians recovered to Antioch.
  • * Shakespeare
    • The forest is not three leagues off; / If we recover that, we're sure enough.
  • * Hales
    • Except he could recover one of the Cities of Refuge he was to die.
  • (archaic) To restore to good health, consciousness, life etc.
  • * Shakespeare
    • The wine in my bottle will recover him.
  • *, vol.I, New York, 2001, p.233-4:
    • Cnelius a physiciangave him a clyster, by which he was speedily recovered .
  • * Bible, 2. Tim. ii. 26
    • that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him
  • (archaic) To make good by reparation; to make up for; to retrieve; to repair the loss or injury of.
    • to recover lost time
  • * Rogers
    • Even good men have many failings and lapses to lament and recover .
  • (archaic) To get better from; to get over.
  • * Cowley
    • I do hope to recover my late hurt.
  • * De Foe
    • when I had recovered a little my first surprise
  • To get better, regain one's health.
  • To regain one's composure, balance etc.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title= The China Governess, chapter=19
    • , passage=Meanwhile Nanny Broome was recovering from her initial panic and seemed anxious to make up for any kudos she might have lost, by exerting her personality to the utmost. She took the policeman's helmet and placed it on a chair, and unfolded his tunic to shake it and fold it up again for him.}}
  • (legal) To obtain a judgement; to succeed in a lawsuit.
    • The plaintiff has recovered in his suit.
  • (legal) To gain as compensation or reparation.
    • to recover''' damages in trespass; to '''recover debt and costs in a suit at law
    to recover lands in ejectment or common recovery
  • (legal) To gain by legal process.
    • to recover judgement against a defendant
    Related terms
    * recovery

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (label) Recovery.
  • *:
  • *:It was neuer in my thoughte saide la?celot to withholde the quene from my lord Arthur / but in soo moche she shold haue ben dede for my sake / me semeth it was my parte to saue her lyf and putte her from that daunger tyl better recouer myghte come / & now I thanke god sayd sir Launcelot that the pope hath made her pees
  • (label) A position of holding a firearm during exercises, whereby the lock is at shoulder height and the sling facing out.

    • Etymology 2

    .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To cover again.
    • (Sir Walter Scott)
  • (roofing) To add a new roof membrane or steep-slope covering over an existing one.

    • Anagrams

    *

    pursue

    English

    Verb

    (pursu)
  • (obsolete) To follow with harmful intent; to try to harm, to persecute, torment.
  • To follow urgently, originally with intent to capture or harm; to chase.
  • * Wyclif Bible, John xv. 20
    • The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have pursued' me, they shall ' pursue you also.
  • * 2009 , Martin Chulov, ‘Iraqi shoe-thrower claims he suffered torture in jail’, The Guardian , 15 Sep 09:
    • He now feared for his life, and believed US intelligence agents would pursue him.
  • To follow, travel down (a particular way, course of action etc.).
    • Her rival pursued a quite different course.
  • To aim for, go after (a specified objective, situation etc.).
  • * 2009 , Benjamin Pogrund, ‘Freeze won't hurt Netanyahu’, The Guardian , 1 Dec 09:
    • He even stands to gain in world terms: his noisy critics strengthen his projected image of a man determined to pursue peace with Palestinians.
  • To participate in (an activity, business etc.); to practise, follow (a profession).

    • See also

    * follow * chase