reciprocate

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   alternate the direction of motion of

   The engine reciprocates the propeller.

2. 2
   verb

   act, feel, or give mutually or in return

   We always invite the neighbors and they never reciprocate!

From Latin recīprocātus, perfect passive participle of recīprocō (“to move back and forth”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from reciprocus (“back an forth, reciprocal, alternating”) + -ō (first conjugation verb-forming suffix), itself possibly from a phrase such as reque proque (“back and forth”), from re- (“back”), prō (“forwards”) and -que (“and”). See also reciprocal. Compare French réciproquer.

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External links

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