reclaim

v. t. To claim back; to demand the return of as a right; to attempt to recover possession of. [ 1913 Webster ]

A tract of land [ Holland ] snatched from an element perpetually reclaiming its prior occupancy. W. Coxe. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Reclaimed p. pr. & vb. n. Reclaiming. ] [ F. réclamer, L. reclamare, reclamatum, to cry out against; pref. re- re- + clamare to call or cry aloud. See Claim. ] 1. To call back, as a hawk to the wrist in falconry, by a certain customary call. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To call back from flight or disorderly action; to call to, for the purpose of subduing or quieting. [ 1913 Webster ]

The headstrong horses hurried Octavius . . . along, and were deaf to his reclaiming them. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To reduce from a wild to a tamed state; to bring under discipline; -- said especially of birds trained for the chase, but also of other animals. “An eagle well reclaimed.” Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Hence: To reduce to a desired state by discipline, labor, cultivation, or the like; to rescue from being wild, desert, waste, submerged, or the like; as, to reclaim wild land, overflowed land, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To call back to rectitude from moral wandering or transgression; to draw back to correct deportment or course of life; to reform. [ 1913 Webster ]

It is the intention of Providence, in all the various expressions of his goodness, to reclaim mankind. Rogers. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. To correct; to reform; -- said of things. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Your error, in time reclaimed, will be venial. Sir E. Hoby. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. To exclaim against; to gainsay. [ Obs. ] Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To reform; recover; restore; amend; correct. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To cry out in opposition or contradiction; to exclaim against anything; to contradict; to take exceptions. [ 1913 Webster ]

Scripture reclaims, and the whole Catholic church reclaims, and Christian ears would not hear it. Waterland. [ 1913 Webster ]

At a later period Grote reclaimed strongly against Mill's setting Whately above Hamilton. Bain. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To bring anyone back from evil courses; to reform. [ 1913 Webster ]

They, hardened more by what might most reclaim,
Grieving to see his glory, . . . took envy. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To draw back; to give way. [ R. & Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of reclaiming, or the state of being reclaimed; reclamation; recovery. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. That may be reclaimed. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. réclamant, p. pr. ] One who reclaims; one who cries out against or contradicts. Waterland. [ 1913 Webster ]