Recolligere

Recolligere is a Latin verb meaning to gather again, to collect anew, or to assemble. It can refer to bringing dispersed items or people back together, or to the mental act of bringing together scattered thoughts or resources. The term thus covers both physical consolidation and figurative recollection.

Etymology: The word is formed from the prefix re- meaning "again" added to colligere (to gather). It belongs to the Latin -ere verb class (the standard third-conjugation pattern), and in usage it follows the regular inflection of -ere verbs.

Usage: In classical Latin, recolligere appears in contexts of organization and consolidation, such as reuniting troops after dispersion, collecting documents, or gathering harvests. It can also be used figuratively for restoring one's composure or thoughts, as in recolligere cogitationes, “to gather one’s thoughts.” The nuance stresses reunification after dispersion rather than mere accumulation.

Related terms: The root coll- links this verb to colligere, and to other compounds expressing gathering and assembly.

See also: English cognates related to the same root, illustrating the sense of bringing things together or recalling them as part of the same semantic field.