reciprocate Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb act, feel, or give mutually or in return
    • We always invite the neighbors and they never reciprocate!
  2. verb alternate the direction of motion of
    • the engine reciprocates the propeller

WordNet

Re*cip"ro*cate intransitive verb
Etymology
L. reciprocatus, p. p. of reciprocare. See Reciprocal.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Reciprocated ; present participle & verbal noun Reciprocating
Definitions
  1. To move forward and backward alternately; to recur in vicissitude; to act interchangeably; to alternate.
    One brawny smith the puffing bellows plies, And draws and blows reciprocating air. Dryden.
Re*cip"ro*cate transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To give and return mutually; to make return for; to give in return; to unterchange; to alternate; as, to reciprocate favors. Cowper.

Webster 1913