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To bring, carry, or send back; to restore, redeliver, or replace in the custody of someone. Merchandise brought back to a seller for credit or a refund. The profit made on a sale; the income from an investment. A schedule of information required by some governmental agencies, such as the tax return that must be submitted to the Internal Revenue Service.

The official report made by a court, body of magistrates, or other official board charged with counting votes cast in an election. The redelivery of a writ, notice, or other form of legal process to the court after its proper service on the defendant or after it cannot be served.

For example, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure require a plaintiff to begin an action in federal court by preparing a complaint and giving it to the court. Then the clerk of the court issues a summons and delivers the summons and complaint to a U.S. marshal or a deputy, unless the court designates someone else. That person must take the papers, called legal process, and serve them on the named defendant. The process server must promptly report back to the court the circumstances of the service or the failure to serve the papers.

This report with the process server's signature on it is called the return of service. It recites facts to demonstrate that the defendant has actually been given notice that she is required to appear in court. The failure to make a proper return does not make the service invalid or defeat its effectiveness for starting the lawsuit, but it can be grounds for disciplining the process server. The return is important to the court because it is proof that service was properly made on the correct person and that the action has been legally commenced.


Service of Process.


(Go back), verb backslide, come again, come back, double back, reappear, rebound, recidivate, redire, reenter, reestablish, relapse, resume, retrace one's steps, retreat, retrograde, reverse direction, revert, reverti, revisit


(Refund), verb compensate, give back, make compensation, make good, make reparation, make restitution, pay back, reddere, reimburse, repay, satisfy, settle


(Respond), verb acknowledge, answer, answer back, counter, countercharge, exchange, field questions, give an answer, interchange, make a rebuttal, make a reeoinder, make acknowledgment, react, rebut, reciprocate, recriminate, rejoin, reply, respondere, retaliate, retort, say in reply, surrebut, surrejoin
See also: annuity, answer, bear, benefit, betterment, canvass, commission, compensate, compensation, consideration, continuation, continue, contribute, contribution, discharge, dividend, escheat, fee, indemnification, indemnify, indemnity, output, pay, payment, perquisite, poll, proceed, profit, quit, reaction, rebate, reciprocate, reciprocity, recommit, recompense, reconversion, recoup, recovery, recrudescence, recur, redemption, refund, regress, rehabilitation, reimburse, reinstate, relapse, remand, remunerate, remuneration, rendition, renewal, rent, reparation, repay, repeat, reply, reprisal, requital, response, restitution, resumption, retaliate, retort, retribution, revenue, reversion, revert, revival, reward, salvage, satisfaction, surrender, trover, yield

RETURN, contracts, remedies. Persons who are beyond the sea are exempted from the operation of the statute of limitations of Pennsylvania, and of other states, till after a certain time has elapsed after their returning. As to what shall be considered a return, see 14 Mass. 203; 1 Gall. 342; 3 Johns. 263; 3 Wils. 145; 2 Bl. Rep. 723; 3 Littell's Rep. 48; 1 Harr. & Johns. 89, 350; 17 Mass. 180.

References in periodicals archive ?
They are 11 points behind Charlton, but they have three games in hand and have yet to play return matches against both the Addicks and second-in-the-table Fulham.
Parker Pen Challenge Cup (Round Two): Rugby Treviso v Newcastle Falcons, Saracens v Colomiers, Montauban v Borders, Bridgend v Bath, London Wasps v Bordeaux-Begles, NEC Harlequins v Stade Francais, RC Narbonne v Connacht, Pontypridd v Leeds Tykes The above ties to take place on weekend of December 6-8, with return matches on December 13-15.
The first-leg fixtures in the first round wil take place from the 6-8 December with the return matches scheduled for 13-15 December.