recursive (adj.)

1790, "periodically recurring," from Latin recurs-, stem of recurrere "run back" (see recur) + -ive. Mathematical sense is from 1934. Related: Recursively; recursiveness.

Entries linking to recursive

recur (v.)

late 14c., recuren, "to recover from illness or suffering" (a sense now obsolete); mid-15c., "to return" (to or into a place), from Latin recurrere "to return, run back, hasten back," figuratively "revert, recur," from re- "back, again" (see re-) + currere "to run" (from PIE root *kers- "to run"). Originally of persons; application to thoughts, ideas, etc., "return to the mind," is recorded from 1620s. Meaning "happen again" is from 1670s. Related: Recurred; recurring.

-ive

word-forming element making adjectives from verbs, meaning "pertaining to, tending to; doing, serving to do," in some cases from Old French -if, but usually directly from Latin adjectival suffix -ivus (source also of Italian and Spanish -ivo). In some words borrowed from French at an early date it has been reduced to -y (as in hasty, tardy).

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Definitions of recursive

recursive (adj.)

of or relating to a recursion;

From wordnet.princeton.edu

Dictionary entries near recursive

recur

recurrence

recurrent

recurring

recursion

recursive

recurve

recusal

recusant

recuse

recyclable