reck
Definition
- Verb (archaic, chiefly used in negative constructions or with "little"): To care about, to be concerned or troubled by something; to heed or take notice of.
Usage Examples
- (He does not care about or worry about the danger.)
- (She has very little concern for the gossip.)
- (What does it matter to them? — an archaic rhetorical use.)
Advanced Usage
"to reck not": a fixed phrase meaning to be indifferent or unconcerned.
- The king recked not of the people's suffering. (The king was indifferent to the suffering of his people.)
"What recks it...": an archaic rhetorical construction meaning "What does it matter..."
- What recks it me whether you stay or go? (What does it matter to me whether you stay or go?)
Variants and Related Words
Reckless (adj): showing a lack of care about danger or consequences; the most common modern derivative.
- His reckless driving caused the accident. (His driving showed no concern for safety.)
Reckoning (n): the act of calculating or considering; also, a settlement of accounts or consequences.
- The day of reckoning had finally come. (The day when one must face the consequences of one's actions.)
Synonyms
- Heed: to pay attention to; to take notice of.
- Care: to feel concern or interest.
- Mind: to be troubled by; to object to.
Related Idioms
To reck nothing of: to have no regard or concern for.
- He recked nothing of the warnings from his friends. (He completely ignored his friends' warnings.)
To reck little of: to have very little concern for.
- She recks little of the cost, as long as the work is done well. (She is not very concerned about the cost.)