Definition of the word reckon with

The origin of the phrase "reckon with" can be traced back to the Old English word "ræcnian," which meant "to calculate or count." The Middle English form "reckenne" evolved to "reckonen" in the 14th century, suggesting a person's ability to "settle accounts" or "reckon" one's financial debts. Over time, the phrase has come to mean more than just financial obligations. By the 16th century, "reckon" could refer to "reckoning with" someone in a more general way, meaning to confront or deal with a person or situation, particularly one that is challenging or difficult. Other related terms in Old English include "ræccan," meaning "to calculate" or "count," and "ræc="+noun, indicating a measurement or a numerical quantity. In Middle English, "rekenyng" was used to describe one's mental calculation abilities, while "enrekenyng" referred to the process of keeping records. These linguistic roots reveal the way in which the meaning of "reckon with" has shifted from a primarily financial term to a broader phrase encompassing the concepts of facing up to a challenge or admitting a responsibility.