convalesce

[ kon-vuh-les ]

verb (used without object)

, con·va·lesced, con·va·lesc·ing.

1. to recover health and strength after illness; make progress toward recovery of health.

convalesce

/ ˌkɒnvəˈlɛs /

verb

1. intr to recover from illness, injury, or the aftereffects of a surgical operation, esp by resting

Word History and Origins

Origin of convalesce¹

1475–85; < Latin convalēscere to grow fully strong, equivalent to con- con- + valēscere to grow strong ( val ( ēre ) to be well + -escere -esce )

Word History and Origins

Origin of convalesce¹

C15: from Latin convalēscere, from com- (intensive) + valēscere to grow strong, from valēre to be strong

Example Sentences

To convalesce, they stay in this compound, and exercise by walking around its well-ordered clusters of three-story buildings and a synthetic turf avenue with a playground and soccer field.

From Los Angeles Times

More than a dozen koalas were convalescing in open-air enclosures, wrapping their woolly arms around the trunks of eucalyptus trees.

From New York Times

Pink needed two surgeries and almost two months of recovery at the same aviary where Blue is convalescing.

From Los Angeles Times

Palace hopes that she would be left alone to convalesce were dashed.

From Seattle Times

She will convalesce at home for two to three months, according to her office at the palace, and will not return to official duties until after Easter, which falls on March 31 this year.

From New York Times

Related Words

• recuperate