Part 302

Re*turn", v. t. 1. To bring, carry, send, or turn, back; as, to return a borrowed book, or a hired horse.

Both fled attonce, ne ever back returned eye.

Spenser.

2. To repay; as, to return borrowed money.

3. To give in requital or recompense; to requite.

The Lord shall return thy wickedness upon thine own head.

1 Kings ii. 44.

4. To give back in reply; as, to return an answer; to return thanks.

5. To retort; to throw back; as, to return the lie.

If you are a malicious reader, you return upon me, that I affect to be thought more impartial than I am.

Dryden.

6. To report, or bring back and make known.

And all the people answered together, . . . and Moses returned the words of the people unto the Lord.

Ex. xix. 8.

7. To render, as an account, usually an official account, to a superior; to report officially by a list or statement; as, to return a list of stores, of killed or wounded; to return the result of an election.

8. Hence, to elect according to the official report of the election officers. [Eng.]

9. To bring or send back to a tribunal, or to an office, with a certificate of what has been done; as, to return a writ.

10. To convey into official custody, or to a general depository.

Instead of a ship, he should levy money, and return the same to the treasurer for his majesty's use.

Clarendon.

11. (Tennis) To bat (the ball) back over the net.

12. (Card Playing) To lead in response to the lead of one's partner; as, to return a trump; to return a diamond for a club.

To return a lead (Card Playing), to lead the same suit led by one's partner.

Syn. -- To restore; requite; repay; recompense; render; remit; report.

Re*turn" (?), n. 1. The act of returning (intransitive), or coming back to the same place or condition; as, the return of one long absent; the return of health; the return of the seasons, or of an anniversary.

At the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against thee.

1 Kings xx. 22.

His personal return was most required and necessary.