a. and sb. Now rare or Obs. [ad. L. suscipient-, -ens, pr. pple. of suscipĕre: see SUSCEPTION.]
A. adj. 1. Receiving, recipient.
1649. Jer. Taylor, Gt. Exemp., II. Disc. x. 139. Nothing is required in the person suscipient, and capable of alms, but that he be in … want.
a. 1677. Barrow, Serm. Acts iv. 24, Wks. 1686, II. 178. [God] effecting miracles … without any preparatory dispositions induced into the suscipient matter.
1684. trans. Bonet’s Merc. Compit., XV. 528. Care must be taken … of the Lungs, as suscipient, and sometimes constantly productive of the Matter.
b. Disposed to receive, receptive. rare–1.
1815. Zeluca, I. 13. She instructed her daughter’s suscipient youth in the prevalent system [etc.].
2. With of: That takes into its scope.
1655. Stanley, Hist. Philos., I. (1687), 7/1. These which are the first motions, and suscipient of the second corporal, bring all things into augmentation, and decrease.
B. sb. One who receives, a recipient (esp. of a sacrament).
1611. W. Sclater, Key (1629), 236. To confer grace by force of the very Sacramentall action…, not by the merit … of the suscipient. Ibid., 258. Iudas ministred baptisme sufficient in it selfe, I doubt not also but effectual to the beleeuing suscipient.
1651–3. Jer. Taylor, Serm. for Year (1678), 359. Men cannot be worthy suscipients [of the sacraments] unless they do many excellent acts of Vertue. Ibid. (1660), Duct. Dubit., I. iv. rule 5 § 3. The stronger efficient upon the same suscipient should produce the more certain … effect.
