Literary notes about receive (AI summary)
The word “receive” functions in literature as a versatile term that encompasses both physical and abstract acts of acceptance. It is used to denote the act of taking possession or being given something tangible—such as when a character accepts a letter [1] or salary [2]—while also conveying the acceptance of intangible gifts like honor, kindness, or divine grace [3][4]. In some narratives, the term reflects social or ceremonial interactions, capturing moments of respectful welcome or deliberate refusal as characters are either embraced or rebuffed [5][6]. This dynamic range of usage allows writers to layer meaning into their work, imbuing the word with both literal and symbolic resonance.
- My dear Miss Carrie:—I was much pleased to receive your kind letter.
— from The Story of My Life by Helen Keller - I receive, my dear sir—I haven’t the honour of knowing your name—I receive a salary of very nearly two thousand roubles a year.
— from Project Gutenberg Compilation of Short Stories by Chekhov by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov - And these likewise are they that are sown on the stony ground: who when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with joy.
— from The Bible, Douay-Rheims, Complete - SOCRATES: I see that I shall receive in my turn a perfect and splendid feast of reason.
— from Timaeus by Plato - Ulysses falling at the feet of the queen, the mist disperses, the Phaecians admire, and receive him with respect.
— from The Odyssey by Homer - But what had induced the latter to receive him like that?
— from Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
