Ms. Mnouchkine was initially attracted to Lecoq's school because of its focus on the elements of performance that went beyond the mere recitation of words.

Welcome to the world of "apparent temperature," the hot-weather counterpart of the "wind-chill factor," whose mere recitation by TV weatherfolk makes cold weather feel even more frigid.

Mr. Norrington is too careful and clear to fall into mere recitation, but his practicality and directness are a matter of temperament rather than authenticity.

He then demonstrated with stunning insight all the nuance, psychology, poetry and beauty that cannot possibly be understood by a mere recitation of plot.

She looked like a figure of stone against the wall, blank and unforgiving, as if no mere recitation of guilt could touch her.

When he at last spoke again, his voice was absolutely neutral, a mere recitation of the information he had just received.

For those with legitimate expectations of a cathartic night in the theater, a mere recitation will not do.

In all fairness, a mere recitation of virtues can never explain the appeal of this memory-enshrouded home cooking.

Urlgen could not tell if the statement was meant as a mere recitation of the obvious or an indictment of his leadership.

He said that the session involved a productive exchange with the two supervisors who were leading the class and that it went far beyond a mere recitation of the rules.