The one a thing is sent to. Named by the receiving, which is the half that decides whether it arrived.
Latin recipiens, present participle of recipere (to receive): re- (back) + capere (to take); a recipient is named for the receiving, the same half of the exchange that decides whether anything sent actually landed.
The one a thing is sent to. Named by the receiving rather than the sending, because the root already knows that half is the one that decides whether anything arrived.