Definition of "recitation"

I shall now endeavor to give some account of the College.... Some then go to a recitation of the lesson they have learnt the previous evening. Some return to their rooms till the breakfast-bell, about seven or after. At eight the sludy bell rings. All must then go in their rooms and continue there, even if they have no lessons to learn, unless they attend a recitation which occupies an hour.

1882, Wayside Gleanings for Leisure Moments, Cambridge University Press, page 20

In the "announcement of courses" published annually by the faculty of the University of California the reader cannot fail to be impressed with the number and scope of the hours devoted by the students to recitations and lectures upon the subject of "literature."

1896, Frank Norris, "The 'English Courses' of the University of California", reprinted in, 1986, Novels and Essays, Library of America, page 1109

Many of my courses, however, were offered in recitation-lecture format. We would attend class, say twice a week, and a lecture once a week... I do seem to recall that my recitation sections seldom had less than 40 to 50 students and my lecture classes often had upwards of 100 to 300 students.

1999 October 29, J. Levine, “Re: Debate on accreditation of Jones International”, in alt.education.distance (Usenet)