Shak.
(b) An answer; as, a return to one's question. (c) An account, or
formal report, of an action performed, of a duty discharged, of facts
or statistics, and the like; as, election returns; a return of the
amount of goods produced or sold; especially, in the plural, a set of
tabulated statistics prepared for general information. (d) The profit
on, or advantage received from, labor, or an investment, undertaking,
adventure, etc.
The fruit from many days of recreation is very little; but from
these few hours we spend in prayer, the return is great.
Jer. Taylor.
4. (Arch.) The continuation in a different direction, most often at a
right angle, of a building, face of a building, or any member, as a
molding or mold; -- applied to the shorter in contradistinction to the
longer; thus, a facade of sixty feet east and west has a return of
twenty feet north and south.
5. (Law) (a) The rendering back or delivery of writ, precept, or
execution, to the proper officer or court. (b) The certificate of an
officer stating what he has done in execution of a writ, precept, etc.,
indorsed on the document. (c) The sending back of a commission with the
certificate of the commissioners. (d) A day in bank. See Return day,
below. Blackstone.
6. (Mil. & Naval) An official account, report, or statement, rendered
to the commander or other superior officer; as, the return of men fit
for duty; the return of the number of the sick; the return of
provisions, etc.