reckon

Everyday

1. (informal, especially UK, Australia, NZ, Ireland) To think or believe; to have an opinion. tree →
2. To guess or estimate a number. tree →
3. (formal, old) To count or calculate. tree →
4. reckon on: to expect or rely on something. tree →
5. reckon with: to have to deal with someone or something. tree →

In the lessons

Very common in everyday talk: "I reckon it'll rain". In maths it can mean estimate: "how many do you reckon are in the jar?". Phrases: I reckon, reckon on, reckon with, a force to be reckoned with, day of reckoning.

Examples

• I reckon it's going to rain this arvo. tree →
• How many sweets do you reckon are in the jar? tree →
• She reckons she can run faster than her brother. tree →
• We didn't reckon on so many people coming. tree →
• He's a player to be reckoned with. tree →
• I reckon the shop is about two kilometres away. tree →
• Do you reckon we'll win? tree →
• ‘Let us reckon the heads first. tree →

Note

Regular verb: reckoned. In casual speech "I reckon" just means "I think" and gives an opinion, not a fact. In a maths problem "reckon" usually means estimate, so the number is a guess, not exact.

In Jewish tradition

In Chronicles, people are reckoned by genealogy, with a count of those able to serve in war. In Ezekiel, a cleansed person has seven days reckoned before he may return to service.

Interpretation. The laws of the jubilee year require reckoning the value of land or a field by the years left until the fiftieth year, so everything returns to its first owner. Counting by genealogy is read as showing how much Israel valued family and tribe.

Examples

• And the gift which ye set apart shall be reckoned unto you, as though it were the corn of the threshing-floor, and as the fulness of the wine-press. (Torah NUM.18.27, JPS 1917) tree →
• And if there remain but few years unto the year of jubilee, then he shall reckon with him; according unto his years shall he give back the price of his redemption. (Torah LEV.25.52, JPS 1917) tree →
• then the priest shall reckon unto him the worth of thy valuation unto the year of jubilee; and he shall give thy valuation in that day, as a holy thing unto the LORD. (Torah LEV.27.23, JPS 1917) tree →
• And after he is cleansed, they shall reckon unto him seven days. (Prophets EZK.44.26, JPS 1917) tree →
• And the number of them reckoned by genealogy for service in war was twenty and six thousand men. (Writings 1CH.7.40, JPS 1917) tree →
• And his brethren by their families, when the genealogy of their generations was reckoned: the chief Jeiel, and Zechariah, (Writings 1CH.5.7, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Regular verb: reckoned. In casual speech "I reckon" just means "I think" and gives an opinion, not a fact. In a maths problem "reckon" usually means estimate, so the number is a guess, not exact.