In the older American colleges, the rooms of the Tutors were formerly the recitation-rooms of the classes. At Harvard College, the benches on which the students sat when reciting were, when not in use, kept in piles, outside of the Tutors' rooms. When the hour of recitation arrived, they would carry them into the room, and again return them to their places when the exercise was finished. One of the favorite amusements of the students was to burn these benches; the spot selected for the bonfire being usually the green in front of the old meeting-house, or the common. RECITE. Transitively, to rehearse, as a lesson to an instructor. 2. Intransitively, to rehearse a lesson. The class will _recite_ at eleven o'clock.--_Webster_. This word is used in both forms in American seminaries. RECORD OF MERIT. At Middlebury College "a class-book is kept by each instructor, in which the character of each student's recitation is noted by numbers, and all absences from college exercises are minuted. Demerit for absences and other irregularities is also marked in like manner, and made the basis of discipline. At the close of each term, the average of these marks is recorded, and, when desired, communicated to parents and guardians." This book is called the _record of merit_.--_Cat. Middlebury Coll._, 1850-51, p. 17. RECTOR. The chief elective officer of some universities, as in France and Scotland. The same title was formerly given to the president of a college in New England, but it is not now in use.--_Webster_. The title of _Rector_ was given to the chief officer of Yale College at the time of its foundation, and was continued until the year 1745, when, by "An Act for the more full and complete establishment of Yale College in New Haven," it was changed, among other alterations, to that of _President_.--_Clap's Annals of Yale College_, p. 47. The chief officer of Harvard College at the time of its foundation was styled _Master_ or _Professor_. Mr. Dunster was chosen the first _President_, in 1640, and those who succeeded him bore this title until the year 1686, when Mr. Joseph Dudley, having received the commission of President of the Colony, changed for the sake of distinction the title of _President of the College_ to that of _Rector_. A few years after, the title of _President_ was resumed. --_Peirce's Hist. of Harv. Univ._, p. 63. REDEAT. Latin; literally, _he may return_. "It is the custom in some colleges," says the Gradus ad Cantabrigiam, "on coming into residence, to wait on the Dean, and sign your name in a book, kept for that purpose, which is called signing your _Redeat_."--p. 92. REFECTORY. At Oxford, Eng., the place where the members of each college or hall dine. This word was originally applied to an apartment in convents and monasteries, where a moderate repast was taken.--_Brande_.