verb
convalesce
kahn-vuh-LESS/ˌkɑːnvəˈles/
Recover health and strength after illness or injury.
She convalesces at home after a long stay in the hospital.
Etymology
The central image is beginning to grow strong: recovery is strength returning rather than health already restored. The prefix may intensify that idea, though its role here is uncertain.
More examples
- He spent several weeks convalescing after heart surgery.
- While I convalesce, my neighbors bring meals and help with chores.
- The injured hikers convalesced at a nearby clinic.
Forms
convalesce · convalesces · convalesced · convalescing
convalescence noun — Recovery of health after illness or injury.
convalescent adjective — Recovering health and strength after an illness.
Similar words
- recuperate
- Also covers regaining energy after exertion, not just illness.
- recover
- More general; can describe improvement beyond health and strength.
- heal
- Emphasizes repair of an injury rather than overall recovery.