Definition of "recess"

(countable) A depressed, hollow, or indented space; also, a hole or opening.  quotations

1. (architecture) A small space created by building part of a wall further back from the rest; a niche.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • [T]he Harmony, Proportion and Beauty of Buildings are equally admirable, vvhether they be executed in plain Free-ſtone, or the moſt beautiful Marble; vvhether the Carvings or Mouldings be gilt or not; the Receſſes or Panels in the VValls be curiouſly painted, or only plaiſter'd.

     1742, [Daniel Defoe], “Letter II. Containing a Description of the City of London, as Taking in the City of Westminster, Borough of Southwark, and the Buildings Circumjacent.”, in A Tour thro’ the Whole Island of Great Britain. […], 3rd edition, volume II, London: […] J. Osborn, […], pages 121–122

   • My uncle now clambered on top of the half score of mattresses which form a French bed, and which stood in a deep recess; […]

     1824, Geoffrey Crayon [pseudonym; Washington Irving], “The Adventure of My Uncle”, in Tales of a Traveller, part 1 (Strange Stories. […]), Philadelphia, Pa.: H[enry] C[harles] Carey & I[saac] Lea, […], page 28

   • [T]he soldier looked to the oriel windows. The recesses within them were raised a step or two from the wall.

     1826, [Walter Scott], chapter III, in Woodstock; Or, The Cavalier. […], volume I, Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne and Co.] for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, and Green, page 87

   • Uncertain where to go next, and bewildered by the crowd of people who were already astir, they sat down in one of the recesses of the bridge, to rest.

     1841 February–November, Charles Dickens, “Barnaby Rudge”, in Master Humphrey’s Clock, volume III, London: Chapman & Hall, […], chapter 48, page 211

   • I hied me to the window-recess; and while I sat there and looked out on the still trees and dim lawn, to a sweet air was sung in mellow tones, […]

     1847 October 16, Currer Bell [pseudonym; Charlotte Brontë], chapter IX, in Jane Eyre. An Autobiography. […], volume II, London: Smith, Elder, and Co., […], page 246

   • This hall is the living-room of the house, and walls and roof are of stout logs. […] Deep recesses half way up the walls contain various provender in barrels and sacks.

     1902 (date written), J[ames] M[atthew] Barrie, The Admirable Crichton, London, New York, N.Y.: Hodder & Stoughton, […], published , act III (The Happy Home), page 125

2. (criminal slang, usually in the plural) The place in a prison where the communal lavatories are located.

(countable) A hidden, innermost, or inaccessible place or part of a place.  quotations

1. (archaic) A place of retirement, retreat, or seclusion.  quotations

   Quotations

   • [U]s hitherto this Corner and ſecret receſſe hath defended, novv the vttermoſt point of our Land is laid open: & things the leſſe they haue beene vvithin knovvledge, the greater the glory is to atchieue them.

     1623, Iohn Speed [i.e., John Speed], “Flavius Domitian”, in The Historie of Great Britaine under the Conquests of the Romans, Saxons, Danes and Normans. […], 2nd edition, London: […] Iohn Beale, for George Humble, […], book 6, page 90

   • [T]hy tidings bring, / Departure from this happy place, our ſweet / Receſs, and onely conſolation left / Familiar to our eyes, all places elſe / Inhoſpitable appeer and deſolate, […]

     1667, John Milton, “Book X”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], […]; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, lines 302–306

   • His cousin June—and coming straight to his recess!

     1921 September, John Galsworthy, “Encounter”, in To Let, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Charles Scribner’s Sons, part I, page 15

2. (figuratively, usually in the plural) An obscure, remote, or secret situation.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • […] Momus […] ſeeing in the frame of mans heart, ſuch Angles and receſſes, founde fault there vvas not a vvindovve to looke into them: […]

     1605, Francis Bacon, “The Second Booke”, in The Twoo Bookes of Francis Bacon. Of the Proficience and Aduancement of Learning, Diuine and Humane, London: […] [Thomas Purfoot and Thomas Creede] for Henrie Tomes, […], folio 94, recto

   • […] GOD not onely ſerving himſelf vvith truth out of the mouthes of impious perſons, but magnifying the receſſes of his Counſell and VViſdome and Predeſtination, vvho uſes the ſame Doctrine to glorifie himſelf and to confound his enemies, […]

     1649, Jer[emy] Taylor, “Ad. Sect. 4. Considerations of the Epiphany of the B. JESUS by a Star, and the Adoration of JESUS by the Eastern Magi.”, in The Great Exemplar of Sanctity and Holy Life According to the Christian Institution. […], London: […] R. N. for Francis Ash, […], 1st part, paragraph 8, page 52

   • [P]enitential Sorrovv vvill, and muſt proceed much farther. It muſt force, and make its vvay into the very inmoſt Corners, and Receſſes of the Soul; […]

     1688 April 18 (Gregorian calendar); first published 1694, Robert South, “Sacramental Preparation: Set forth in a Sermon on Matthew xxii. 12. Preach’d at Westminster-Abbey, on the 8th of April, 1688. , published 1727, page 301

   • But thou, nor they, ſhall ſearch the Thoughts that roll / Deep in the cloſe Receſſes of my Soul.

     1715, Homer, [Alexander] Pope, transl., “Book I”, in The Iliad of Homer, volume I, London: […] W[illiam] Bowyer, for Bernard Lintott […], page 33, lines 710–711

   • CONVERSATION calls out into Light vvhat has been lodged in all the Receſſes and ſecret Chambers of the Soul: […]

     1741, I[saac] Watts, “Five Methods of Improvement Described and Compared, viz. Observation, Reading, Instruction by Lectures, Conversation, and Study, with Their Several Advantages and Defects”, in The Improvement of the Mind: Or, A Supplement to the Art of Logick: […], London: […] James Brackstone, […], page 42

   • Then was a little respite to the fear, / That in my heart's recesses deep had lain, / All of that night, so pitifully pass'd: […]

     1814, Dante Alighieri, “Canto I”, in H[enry] F[rancis] Cary, transl., The Vision; or, Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise, of Dante Alighieri. [...] In Three Volumes, volume I (Hell), London: […] [J. Barfield] for Taylor and Hessey, […], page 1, lines 18–20

   • As to the fundamental difference of opinion respecting the sources of knowledge (apart from the corollaries which either party may have drawn from its own principle, or imputed to its opponent's), the question lies far too deep in the recesses of psychology for us to discuss it here.

     1840 March, John Stuart Mill, “Coleridge”, in Dissertations and Discussions Political, Philosophical, and Historical […], volume I, London: John W[illiam] Parker and Son, […], published 1859, page 408

(countable) A temporary stoppage of an activity; a break, a pause.

1. (government) A period of time when the proceedings of a committee, court of law, parliament, or other official body are temporarily suspended.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • After the Easter recess, Sir George Lynn, who was lately elected member for Millcote, will have to go up to town and take his seat; […]

     1847 October 16, Currer Bell [pseudonym; Charlotte Brontë], chapter II, in Jane Eyre. An Autobiography. […], volume II, London: Smith, Elder, and Co., […], page 35

   • The recess of the English Parliament lasted six weeks.

     1849, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter I, in The History of England from the Accession of James II, volume I, London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, page 98

2. (Australia, Britain, Canada, US, education) A time away from studying during the school day for a meal or recreation.  examples

(countable, archaic) An act of retiring or withdrawing; a moving back.  quotations

(countable, historical) A decree or resolution of the diet of the Holy Roman Empire or the Hanseatic League.  quotations

(obsolete)

1. (countable) An act of retiring or withdrawing from public life, society, etc.; also, an act of living in retirement or seclusion, or a period of such retirement or seclusion.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • First we went to the Castle of St. Elmo, built on a very high rock, whence we had an intire prospect of ye whole Citty, which lyes in shape of a theatre upon the sea brinke, with all the circumjacent islands, as far as Capreæ, famous for the debauched recesses of Tiberius.

     1645 February 10 (Gregorian calendar), John Evelyn, “”, in William Bray, editor, Memoirs, Illustrative of the Life and Writings of John Evelyn, […], 2nd edition, volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […]; and sold by John and Arthur Arch, […], published 1819, page 138

   • The ſoft Receſſes of Your Hours improve / The Three fair Pledges of Your Happy Love: […]

     1700, [John] Dryden, “To Her Grace the Dutchess of Ormond”, in Fables Ancient and Modern; […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], page 44

   • […] When the Evidence is fully given, the Jurors withdraw to a private Place, […] In this Receſs of the Jury they are to conſider their Evidence, […]

     1713, [Matthew Hale], “Touching Trials by Jury”, in The History of the Common Law of England: […], [London]: […] J[ohn] Nutt, assignee of Edw[ard] Sayer Esq; for J. Walthoe, […], page 260

   • [D]uring my Receſs at St Jones’s I receiv’d a very obliging Letter from him, aſſuring me that his Proceſs for a Divorce vvent on vvith Succeſs, tho’ he met vvith ſome Difficulties in it that he did not expect.

     1722 (indicated as 1721), [Daniel Defoe], The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders, &c. […], London: […] W[illiam Rufus] Chetwood, […]; and T. Edling, […], published 1722, pages 194–195

2. (uncountable)

   1. Leisure, relaxation.  quotations  examples

      Quotations

      • It [Rome] is divided into 14 Regions or Wards; has 7 Mountaines, and as may Campi or Vally's; in these are faire Parks or Gardens call'd Villas, being onely places of recesse and pleasure, at some distance from the streetes, yet within the walls.

        1645 May 16 (Gregorian calendar), John Evelyn, “”, in William Bray, editor, Memoirs, Illustrative of the Life and Writings of John Evelyn, […], 2nd edition, volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […]; and sold by John and Arthur Arch, […], published 1819, page 170

      • A small part of this subject many years since had dropped from my pen; but looking, at some opportunities, upon the argument, I thought some things more considerable might be deduced; and applying myself further, at times of recess, I felt it grow and multiply under my imagination: […]

        1659, James Shirley, “Honoria and Mammon: To the Candid Reader”, in William Gifford and Alexander Dyce, editors, The Dramatic Works and Poems of James Shirley, […], volume VI, London: John Murray, […], published 1833, page 3

      • Fair Thames ſhe haunts, and ev'ry neighb'ring Grove / Sacred to ſoft Receſs, and gentle Love.

        1709, Mat[thew] Prior, “Cloe Hunting”, in Poems on Several Occasions, 2nd edition, London: […] Jacob Tonson […], page 211

      • His hours of leiſure and receſs employs, / In dravving pictures of forbidden joys, […]

        1782, William Cowper, “Retirement”, in Poems, London: […] J[oseph] Johnson, […], page 269

   2. The state of being withdrawn.  quotations  examples

      Quotations

      • Good Verſe, receſs and Solitude requires: / And Eaſe from Cares, and undiſturb'd Deſires.

        1695, C[harles] A[lphonse] du Fresnoy, “Observations on the Art of Painting of Charles Alphonse du Fresnoy”, in John Dryden, transl., De Arte Graphica. The Art of Painting, […], London: […] J[ohn] Heptinstall for W. Rogers, […], page 199

3. (figuratively)

   1. (countable) A departure from a norm or position.  quotations  examples

      Quotations

      • This, part of METAPHISICKE: I doe not finde laboured and performed, vvhereat I maruaile not, Becauſe I hold it not poſſible to bee inuented by that courſe of inuention vvhich hath beene vſed, in regard that men (vvhich is the Roote of all error) haue made too untimely a departure, and to[o] remote a receſſe from particulars.

        1605, Francis Bacon, “The Second Booke”, in The Twoo Bookes of Francis Bacon. Of the Proficience and Aduancement of Learning, Diuine and Humane, London: […] [Thomas Purfoot and Thomas Creede] for Henrie Tomes, […], folio 28, recto

      • The external maladies are. 1. Tumours, vvhich are receſſes of the parts of mans body, from the natural ſtate, […]

        1661, Robert Lovell, “Anthropologia, &c. Of Man. &c.”, in ΠΑΝΖΩΟΡΥΚΤΟΛΟΓΙΑ [PANZŌORYKTOLOGIA]. Sive Panzoologicomineralogia. Or A Compleat History of Animals and Minerals, Containing the Summe of All Authors, both Ancient and Modern, Galenicall and Chymicall, [...], Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] Hen[ry] Hall, for Jos[eph] Godwin, page 430

   2. (countable) A time interval during which something ceases; an interruption, a respite.  quotations  examples

      Quotations

      • But in the end (as Perſons capable of reaſon) on both ſides they made rather a kind of Receſſe, then a Breach of Treaty, and concluded vpon a Truce for ſome moneths follovving.

        1622, Francis, Lord Verulam, Viscount St. Alban [i.e. Francis Bacon], The Historie of the Raigne of King Henry the Seventh, […], London: […] W[illiam] Stansby for Matthew Lownes, and William Barret, pages 176–177

      • But ſo the Fates, for Puniſhment ordain'd, / The ſmall Receſs the vveary Land obtain'd; / So little Breath to riſing Freedom gave, / 'Tvvas hard to knovv the Subject from the Slave.

        1706, [Daniel Defoe], “Book X”, in Jure Divino: A Satyr. […], London: [P. Hills?], page 229

(obsolete, rare) Of a place or time: distant, remote.  quotations

(transitive)

1. To position (something) a distance behind another thing; to set back.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • His house stood recessed from the road, and the stables, which are to a farm what a fireplace is to a house, were behind, their lower portions being lost amid bushes of laurel.

     1874, Thomas Hardy, “Boldwood in Meditation—A Visit”, in Far from the Madding Crowd. […], volume I, London: Smith, Elder & Co., […], page 199

   • It will also enable slower-moving freight trains to be recessed in the new down goods loop to await, if necessary, a suitable margin before proceeding to Stafford or Stoke and so reduce confliction with other main-line trains.

     1962 January, “Talking of Trains: Track Re-arrangement at Colwich”, in Modern Railways, Shepperton, Surrey: Ian Allan Publishing, page 10

2. (often architecture)

   1. To make a recess (noun sense 1 and sense 1.1) in (something).  examples

   2. (also reflexive) Often preceded by in or into: to inset (something) into a recess or niche.  examples

3. (figuratively) To conceal, to hide.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • Get near fat Mr. Dutton, and behind the screen of his prodigious elbow, you will be comfortably recessed from curious impertinents.

     1808 (date written), [Maria] Edgeworth, “Manœuvring. Chapter XII.”, in Tales of Fashionable Life, volume III, London: […] [S. Hamilton] for J[oseph] Johnson, […], published 1809, page 292

4. (chiefly US, government)

   1. To temporarily suspend (a meeting, the proceedings of an official body, etc.).  quotations  examples

      Quotations

      • When Congress is recessed, he makes himself acquainted with those free United States, of which he is the gifted son.

        1842 December – 1844 July, Charles Dickens, “In which the Travellers Move Homeward, and Encounter Some Distinguished Characters upon the Way”, in The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published 1844, page 400

   2. (informal) To make a recess appointment in respect of (someone).  quotations  examples

      Quotations

      • To the National Rifle Association's delight, the Senate has hobbled the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives by failing to confirm a director since 2006, but [Barack] Obama hasn't made a recess appointment. […] "The President's view of his own power is a constrained one," says White House counsel Kathryn Ruemmler. "Many of his nominees have languished, but he's only recessed the ones that were critical to keep agencies functioning."

        2013 January 14, Michael Grunwald, “Cliff Dweller”, in Time, volume 181, number 1, New York, N.Y.: Time Inc., page 27, column 3

(intransitive, chiefly US, government)

1. Of a meeting, the proceedings of an official body, etc.: to adjourn, to take a break.  examples

2. Of an official body: to suspend proceedings for a period of time.  examples