- reciprocal
- \ \ [16] English adapted reciprocal from Latin reciprocus ‘alternating’. This was a compound adjective based ultimately on the elements re- ‘back, backwards’ and prō- ‘for, forwards’.
Word origins - 2ed. J. Ayto. 2005.
reciprocal
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Reciprocal — Re*cip ro*cal (r[ e]*s[i^]p r[ o]*kal), a. [L. reciprocus; of unknown origin.] 1. Recurring in vicissitude; alternate. [1913 Webster] 2. Done by each to the other; interchanging or interchanged; given and received; due from each to each; mutual;… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
reciprocal — 1 Reciprocal, mutual, common mean shared, experienced, or shown by each of the persons or things concerned. Reciprocal has for its distinctive implication the return in due measure by each of two sides of whatever is offered, given, or manifested … New Dictionary of Synonyms
Reciprocal — may refer to:*Multiplicative inverse, in mathematics, the number 1/ x , which multiplied by x gives the product 1, also known as a reciprocal *Reciprocal (grammar), a relationship between grammatical agents *Reciprocal altruism, a form of… … Wikipedia
reciprocal — re·cip·ro·cal /ri si prə kəl/ adj 1 a: mutual (2) b: bilateral a reciprocal contract 2: characterized by correspondence or equivalence es … Law dictionary
reciprocal — [ri sip′rə kəl] adj. [< L reciprocus, returning, reciprocal < * reco prokos, backwards and forwards < * recos (< re , back + * cos < ?) + IE * proko , ahead (> Gr proka, forthwith) < base * pro , forward, ahead + AL] 1. done … English World dictionary
Reciprocal — Re*cip ro*cal, n. 1. That which is reciprocal to another thing. [1913 Webster] Corruption is a reciprocal to generation. Bacon. [1913 Webster] 2. (Arith. & Alg.) The quotient arising from dividing unity by any quantity; thus 1/4 is the reciprocal … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
reciprocal — re‧cip‧ro‧cal [rɪˈsɪprəkl] adjective a reciprocal arrangement or relationship is one in which two people, countries etc do or give the same things to each other, usually so that each is helped in some way * * * reciprocal UK US /rɪˈsɪprəkəl/… … Financial and business terms
reciprocal — The reciprocal pronouns are each other and one another. See each 3 … Modern English usage
reciprocal — (adj.) 1560s, from L. reciprocus returning the same way, alternating, from pre L. *reco proco , from *recus (from re back + cus, adjective formation) + *procus (from pro forward + cus, adjective formation) … Etymology dictionary
reciprocal — [adj] exchanged, alternate changeable, companion, complementary, convertible, coordinate, correlative, corresponding, dependent, double, duplicate, equivalent, exchangeable, fellow, give and take*, interchangeable, interdependent, matching,… … New thesaurus
reciprocal — ► ADJECTIVE 1) given, felt, or done in return. 2) (of an agreement or arrangement) bearing on or binding two parties equally. 3) Grammar (of a pronoun or verb) expressing mutual action or relationship (e.g. each other, they kissed). ► NOUN… … English terms dictionary
