receipt

Etymology

Recorded since c.1386 as "statement of ingredients in a potion or medicine," from Anglo-Norman or Old Northern French receite (“receipt, recipe”) (1304), altered (by influence of receit (“he receives”), from Latin recipit) from Old French recete, from Latin receptus, perfect passive participle of recipiō, itself from re- (“back”) + capiō (“I take”). The unpronounced p was later inserted to make the word appear closer to its Latin root.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɹɪˈsiːt/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -iːt

Noun

receipt (plural receipts)

1. The act of receiving, or the fact of having been received.
   • William Shakespeare (c.1564–1616)

     at the receipt of your letter

2. (obsolete) The fact of having received a blow, injury etc.
   • 1485 July 31, Thomas Malory, “(please specify the chapter)”, in [Le Morte Darthur], (please specify the book number), [London: William Caxton], OCLC 71490786; republished as H[einrich] Oskar Sommer, editor, Le Morte Darthur, London: Published by David Nutt, in the Strand, 1889, OCLC 890162034:
     , Bk.VI, Ch.xvi:

     And therewith Sir Launcelot gate all his armoure as well as he myght and put hit upon hym for drede of more resseite […].

3. (in the plural) A quantity or amount received; takings.

   This weekend's receipts alone cover our costs to mount the production!

4. A written acknowledgment that a specified article or sum of money has been received.
5. (archaic in New England and rural US since end of 20th century, elsewhere since middle of 20th century)^[1][2] A recipe, instructions, prescription.
   • Sir Thomas Browne (1605-1682)

     She had a receipt to make white hair black.

   • 1863, Sheridan Le Fanu, The House by the Churchyard

     Have you never eaten them, either preserved or candied […] if you will allow me, Sir, I shall be very happy to send the receipt to your housekeeper.

6. (obsolete) A receptacle.
7. (obsolete) A revenue office.
8. (obsolete) Reception, as an act of hospitality.
   • George Chapman (1559-1634)

     thy kind receipt of me

9. (obsolete) Capability of receiving; capacity.
   • John Evelyn (1620-1706)

     It has become a place of great receipt.

10. (obsolete) A recess; a retired place.
    • George Chapman (1559-1634)

      in a retired receipt together lay

Verb

receipt (third-person singular simple present receipts, present participle receipting, simple past and past participle receipted)

1. To give or write a receipt (for something).

   to receipt delivered goods

2. To put a receipt on, as by writing or stamping; to mark a bill as having been paid.

   to receipt a bill

See also

• rcpt
• sales slip

Anagrams

• picrete