RECESS', noun [Latin recessus, from recedo. See Recede.]

1. A withdrawing or retiring; a moving back; as the recess of the tides.

2. A withdrawing from public business or notice; retreat; retirement.

My recess hath given them confidence that I may be conquered.

And every neighboring grove sacred to soft recess and gentle love.

3. Departure.

4. Place of retirement or secrecy; private abode.

This happy place, our sweet recess

5. State of retirement; as lords in close recess

In the recess of the jury, they are to consider their evidence.

6. Remission or suspension of business or procedure; as, the house of representatives had a recess of half an hour.

7. Privacy; seclusion from the world or from company.

Good verse recess and solitude requires.

8. Secret or abstruse part; as the difficulties and recesses of science.

9. A withdrawing from any point; removal to a distance.

10. An abstract or registry of the resolutions of the imperial diet. [Not in use.]

11. The retiring of the shore of the sea or of a lake from the general line of the shore, forming a bay.