RECESS', n. [L. recessus, from recedo. See Recede.] 1. A withdrawing or retiring; a moving back; as the recess of the tides.2. A withdrawing from public business or notice; retreat; retirement.My recess hath given them confidence that I may be conquered.And every neighboring grove sacred to soft recess and gentle love.3. Departure.4. Place of retirement or secrecy; private abode.This happy place, our sweet recess.5. State of retirement; as lords in close recess.In the recess of the jury, they are to consider their evidence.6. Remission or suspension of business or procedure; as, the house of representatives had a recess of half an hour.7. Privacy; seclusion from the world or from company.Good verse recess and solitude requires.8. Secret or abstruse part; as the difficulties and recesses of science.9. A withdrawing from any point; removal to a distance.10. An abstract or registry of the resolutions of the imperial diet. [Not in use.]11. The retiring of the shore of the sea or of a lake from the general line of the shore, forming a bay.
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