Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
noun
- refreshment by means of some pastime, agreeable exercise, or the like.
- a pastime, diversion, exercise, or other resource affording relaxation and enjoyment.
noun
- refreshment of health or spirits by relaxation and enjoyment
- an activity or pastime that promotes this
-
- an interval of free time between school lessons
- (as modifier)recreation period
late 14c., “refreshment or curing of a person, refreshment by eating,” from Old French recreacion (13c.), from Latin recreationem (nominative recreatio) “recovery from illness,” noun of action from past participle stem of recreare “to refresh, restore, make anew, revive, invigorate,” from re- “again” (see re-) + creare (see create). Meaning “refresh oneself by some amusement” is first recorded c.1400.
A verb recreate “to refresh by physical influence after exertion” is attested from early 15c. and was used by Lyly, Pope, Steele, and Harriet Martineau, but it did not take, probably to avoid confusion with recreate.