A tract of land [Holland] snatched from an element
perpetually reclaiming its prior occupancy. --W. Coxe.
Scripture reclaims, and the whole Catholic church
reclaims, and Christian ears would not hear it.
--Waterland.
At a later period Grote reclaimed strongly against
Mill's setting Whately above Hamilton. --Bain.
2. To bring anyone back from evil courses; to reform.
They, hardened more by what might most reclaim,
Grieving to see his glory . . . took envy. --Milton.
3. To draw back; to give way. [R. & Obs.] --Spenser.
2. To call back from flight or disorderly action; to call to,
for the purpose of subduing or quieting.
The headstrong horses hurried Octavius . . . along,
and were deaf to his reclaiming them. --Dryden.
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.
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.
5. To call back to rectitude from moral wandering or
transgression; to draw back to correct deportment or
course of life; to reform.
It is the intention of Providence, in all the
various expressions of his goodness, to reclaim
mankind. --Rogers.
6. To correct; to reform; -- said of things. [Obs.]
Your error, in time reclaimed, will be venial. --Sir
E. Hoby.
7. To exclaim against; to gainsay. [Obs.] --Fuller.
Syn: To reform; recover; restore; amend; correct.