recall
UK: rɪˈkɔːl | US: rɪˈkɔːl
vt. to bring back to mind; remember
vt. to officially order someone to return
n. the act of remembering or summoning back
n. a manufacturer's request to return a defective product
The word "recall" originates from Middle English, combining the prefix "re-" (meaning "again") and the verb "call" (from Old English "ceallian," meaning "to shout or summon"). The prefix "re-" reinforces the idea of repetition or returning to a previous state. Over time, "recall" evolved to encompass both literal summoning (e.g., recalling an ambassador) and figurative mental retrieval (e.g., recalling a memory). The dual meanings reflect the word's logical progression from physical action to cognitive process.
She couldn't recall the details of the event.
The company issued a recall for faulty batteries.
The ambassador was recalled to his home country.
His speech recalled memories of their childhood.
The witness struggled to recall the suspect's face.