reconnoître

reconnoître (third-person singular simple present reconnoîtres, present participle reconnoîtring, simple past and past participle reconnoîtred)

1. Rare spelling of reconnoitre.
   • 1833, “Foreign Miscellany”, in The United Service Journal and Naval and Military Magazine, part III, London: for Henry Colburn, by Richard Bentley, , “Sweden. Gustavus Adolphus’ Death.”, page 95:

     This is a letter from Andreas Goeding, provost of Werio, a town in Gothland, to the then secretary of the archives of state. The writer’s narrative is as follows:— / “When I was in Saxony, in the year 1687, a fortunate accident enabled me to discover the circumstances accompanying the melancholy end of Gustavus Adolphus. This great monarch had rode out for the simple purpose of reconnoîtring the enemy, attended by a single servant. […]”

   • 1850, John S. Jenkins, “Clermont de Tonnèrre”, in United States Exploring Expeditions. Voyage of the U. S. Exploring Squadron, Commanded by Captain Charles Wilkes, of the United States Navy, in 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, and 1842: ., Auburn: James M. Alden, page 156:

     On approaching the island, the boats were lowered, and some of the officers and scientific corps started to reconnoître.

   • 1869, Edward A. Freeman, “The Interregnum. October 1—December 25, 1066.”, in Old English History for Children, London: Macmillan and Co., page 345:

     But the chief thing was to take London; so as soon as William was well enough, he set forth again on his march. He first sent out five hundred horsemen, who must have gone more to reconnoître, as it is called, that is to look about and to see how the land lies, than with any hope that such a force could take the city.

   • 1909, Proceedings, page 10:

     If moreover a veterinary surgeon has a turn for zootechny, and great propensity to the profession, if he is besides urged on by experienced cattle-breeders, there is certainly no other person better able than he to promote cattle-breeding. […] He should likewise visit the places where cattle are examined, be present where prices are awarded, frequent markets of breeding-cattle, cattle shows and race-courses; these visits being of great use for reconnoîtring and judging of the condition of the breeds.

   • 1911, I. H. B. Spiers, Episodes from Alexandre Dumas’ Les trois mousquetaires, ed. with notes and vocab., pages 162 and 179:

     éclairer, to light up; reconnoître. […] reconnaissance, f., gratitude; reconnoîtring-trip; pousser une — perdue, to go on a dangerous reconnoîtring party.

   • 2004 May 6, ah, “My TV just switched itself on!”, in uk.rec.caravanning (Usenet):

     > Until about 00:08 I reckon. / What do you do after you reconnoître?

• reconnoiter

• IPA^(key): /ʁə.kɔ.nɛtʁ/

reconnoître

1. Obsolete spelling of reconnaître.

This verb is one of a fairly small group of -re verbs that are all conjugated the same way. They are unlike other verb groups in that the 'i' is given a circumflex before a 't'. This conjugation pattern is no longer in use and has been replaced by -aître.