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recess

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Recess
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re⋅cess

  [ri-ses, ree-ses]
Use recess in a Sentence
–noun
1. temporary withdrawal or cessation from the usual work or activity.
2. a period of such withdrawal.
3. a receding part or space, as a bay or alcove in a room.
4. an indentation in a line or extent of coast, hills, forest, etc.
5. recesses, a secluded or inner area or part: in the recesses of the palace.
–verb (used with object)
6. to place or set in a recess.
7. to set or form as or like a recess; make a recess or recesses in: to recess a wall.
8. to suspend or defer for a recess: to recess the Senate.
–verb (used without object)
9. to take a recess.
Origin:
1510–20; < L recessus a withdrawal, receding part, equiv. to recēd(ere) to recede 1 + -tus suffix of v. action, with dt > ss

Synonyms:
1. respite, rest, break, vacation.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Recess
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re·cess   (rē'sěs', rĭ-sěs')   
n.  

    1. A temporary cessation of the customary activities of an engagement, occupation, or pursuit.

    2. The period of such cessation. See Synonyms at pause.

    3. An indentation or small hollow.

    4. An alcove.

  2. A remote, secret, or secluded place. Often used in the plural.

    1. An indentation or small hollow.

    2. An alcove.

v.   re·cessed, re·cess·ing, re·cess·es

v.   tr.

  1. To place in a recess.

  2. To create or fashion a recess in: recessed a portion of the wall.

  3. To suspend for a recess: The committee chair recessed the hearings.

v.   intr.
To take a recess: The investigators recessed for lunch.

[Latin recessus, retreat, from past participle of recēdere, to recede; see recede1.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

recess 
1531, "act of receding," from L. recessus "a going back, retreat," from recessum, pp. of recedere "to recede" (see recede). Meaning "hidden or remote part" first recorded 1616; that of "period of stopping from usual work" is from 1620, probably from parliamentary notion of "recessing" into private chambers. The verb is from 1809.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: re·cess
Pronunciation: 'rE-"ses, ri-'ses
Function: noun
: a temporary adjournment of a trial, hearing, or legislative session —recess verb
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: re·cess
Pronunciation: 'rE-"ses, ri-'
Function: noun
: an anatomical depression or cleft : FOSSA
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

recess re·cess (rē'sěs', rĭ-sěs')
n.
A small hollow or an indented area.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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