The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Recess \Re*cess"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Recessed; p. pr. & vb.
   n. Recessing.]
   To make a recess in; as, to recess a wall.
   [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Recessed \Re*cessed"\ (r[-e]*s[e^]st"), a.
   1. Having a recess or recesses; as, a recessed arch or wall.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Withdrawn; secluded. [R.] "Comfortably recessed from
      curious impertinents." --Miss Edgeworth.
      [1913 Webster]

   Recessed arch (Arch.), one of a series of arches
      constructed one within another so as to correspond with
      splayed jambs of a doorway, or the like.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

recessed
    adj 1: having a sunken area; "hunger gave their faces a sunken
           look" [syn: deep-set, sunken, recessed]
    2: resembling an alcove