re-

TheRE and Back Again

Today we will focus on the prefix re-, which can mean “back” or “again.” Prefixes are morphemes which begin words, attaching to a word’s main part, the “root” or “stem.” For instance, in the word return, re- is the prefix, and “turn” is the root or stem.

One meaning of the prefix re- is “back.” For instance, when you reject a plan, you throw it “back.” When a man’s hair recedes, his hairline continues to move “back” as he loses hair. When you reduce the amount of money you spend, you lead it “back” to a smaller amount. When light reflects off a surface, it bends “back.” When you are returning home from an outing, you are turning “back” home. And when a criminal reverts to being good again, he turns “back” to morally upright behavior.

Another primary meaning of the prefix re- is “again.” For instance, when you rearrange the furniture in a room, you arrange it “again” into a different configuration. A marathon runner can become rejuvenated or etymologically made young “again” by sleeping and eating after a long race. Some newts regenerate limbs once they’ve lost them; that is, they grow them “again.” When a teacher recapitulates something she’s just taught, she goes over it “again” by summarizing it. Some religious faiths believe in reincarnation, or the taking of a body “again” after death to live another life.

In a few rare instances the prefix re- adds a “d” to make a word easier to say; this occurs before some vowels some of the time. The word redeem, for instance, as in to redeem a coupon, adds a “d” because reeem would have an unpronounceable 3 es. In the same vein, redundant is much better than “reundant.”

Now your brain will never reject that the meaning of the prefix re- is “back” or “again.” Reflect upon re-, and your vocabulary prowess will never regress!

1. reject: throw ‘back’
2. recede: move ‘back’
3. reduce: lead ‘back’
4. reflect: bend ‘back’
5. return: turn ‘back’
6. revert: turn ‘back’
7. rearrange: arrange ‘again’
8. rejuvenate: make young ‘again’
9. recapitulate: say ‘again’, going ‘back’ to the head of what you’re saying
10. reincarnate: return into a body ‘again’
11. redeem: buy ‘back’
12. redundant: flow ‘again’ unnecessarily

Usage

• redoubtable

  If you describe someone as redoubtable, you have great respect for their power and strength; you may be afraid of them as well.

• rejuvenate

  To rejuvenate someone is to make that person feel young and strong again; to rejuvenate something is to make it like new once more.

• repute

  A person's repute is what others think of them; repute can also refer to someone's standing in society.

• renege

  If you renege on a deal, agreement, or promise, you do not do what you promised or agreed to do.

• reprobate

  A reprobate has a bad character and behaves in an immoral or improper way.

• requisite

  If something is requisite for a purpose, it is needed, appropriate, or necessary for that specific purpose.

• recapitulate

  When someone recapitulates, they summarize material or content of some kind by repeating the most important points.

• reprehensible

  If you think a type of behavior or idea is reprehensible, you think that it is very bad, morally wrong, and deserves to be strongly criticized.

• reconnoiter

  To reconnoiter an area is to go and get preliminary information about it, especially for military purposes.

• irrefutable

  An irrefutable argument or statement cannot be proven wrong; therefore, it must be accepted because it is certain.

• refrain

  If you refrain from doing something, you do not do it—even though you want to.

• revile

  If something is reviled, it is intensely hated and criticized.

• recant

  If you recant, you publicly announce that your once firmly held beliefs or statements were wrong and that you no longer agree with them.

• refractory

  Refractory people deliberately don't obey someone in authority and so are difficult to deal with or control.

• remuneration

  Someone's remuneration is the payment or other rewards they receive for work completed, goods provided, or services rendered.

• remonstrate

  To remonstrate with someone is to tell that person that you strongly disapprove of something they have said or done.

• relegate

  You relegate someone or something if you give that person or thing a less important position than before.

• raconteur

  A raconteur is a person who tells stories with great skill.

• irreproachable

  An irreproachable person is very honest and so morally upright that their behavior cannot be criticized.

• reductive

  If you describe something as reductive, such as an explanation or a theory, you disapprove of it because it describes or explains something in such a simple way that it misses important details.

• reprisal

  A reprisal is something violent or harmful that you do to punish someone for something bad or unpleasant that they did to you.

• recalcitrant

  A recalcitrant animal or person is difficult to control and refuses to obey orders—even after stiff punishment.

• retribution

  Retribution is severe punishment that someone deserves because they have done something very wrong; it especially refers to punishment or revenge that is carried out by someone other than official authorities.

• irrevocable

  An irrevocable action or decision is impossible to change, reverse, or stop.

• resounding

  A resounding success, victory, or defeat is very great or complete, whereas a noise of this kind is loud, powerful, and ringing.

• derelict

  Something, such as a building, is derelict if it is empty, not used, and in bad condition or disrepair.

• revelry

  Revelry is a festive celebration that includes wild, noisy, and happy dancing, eating, and drinking.

• respite

  A respite is a short period of rest from work or something troubling.

• recognizance

  A recognizance is a promise or formal bond made to a court that someone will attend all court hearings and will not engage in further illegal activity.

• rapprochement

  Rapprochement is the development of greater understanding and friendliness between two countries or groups of people after a period of unfriendly relations.

• irreconcilable

  Two irreconcilable opinions or points of view are so opposed to each other that it is not possible to accept both of them or reach a settlement between them.

• redress

  If you redress a complaint or a bad situation, you correct or improve it for the person who has been wronged, usually by paying them money or offering an apology.

• rapport

  If two people have established a good rapport, their connection is such that they have a good understanding of and can communicate well with one other.

• regale

  If someone regales you, they tell you stories and jokes to entertain you— and they could also serve you a wonderful feast.

• unremitting

  A thing or person that is unremitting is persistent and enduring in what is being done.

• restitution

  Restitution is the formal act of giving something that was taken away back to the rightful owner—or paying them money for the loss of the object.

• unrequited

  If you feel unrequited love for another, you love that person, but they don't love you in return.

• recoup

  To recoup is to get back an amount of money you have lost or spent.

• resonate

  If you say that something, such as an event or a message, resonates with you, you mean that it has an emotional effect or a special meaning for you that is significant.

• recluse

  A recluse is someone who chooses to live alone and deliberately avoids other people.

• remiss

  When you have been remiss, you have been careless because you did not do something that you should have done.

• refurbish

  When you refurbish something, you repair it to improve its appearance or ability to function.

• repugnance

  Repugnance is a strong feeling of dislike for something or someone you find horrible and offensive.

• recidivism

  Recidivism is someone's falling back into an undesirable activity—especially crime—after they had temporarily refrained from committing such acts.

• recumbent

  A recumbent figure or person is lying down.

• repudiate

  If you repudiate something, you state that you do not accept or agree with it and no longer want to be connected with it in any way.

• retinue

  A retinue is the group of people, such as friends or servants, who travel with someone important to help and support that person.

• rejoinder

  A rejoinder is a quick answer to a reply or remark that can be rude, angry, clever, or defensive.

• retrench

  If governments, companies, or other institutions retrench, they reduce costs and/or decrease the amount that they spend in order to save money.

• resilience

  Something or someone that shows resilience is able to recover quickly and easily from unpleasant, difficult, and damaging situations or events.

• rebuff

  If you rebuff someone, you give an unfriendly answer to a suggestion or offer of help; you hastily turn that person away.

• rescind

  When someone in power rescinds a law or agreement, they officially end it and state that it is no longer valid.

• recompense

  When you offer recompense to someone, you give them something, usually money, for the trouble or loss that you have caused them or as payment for their help.

• correlate

  When you correlate two things, you compare, associate, or equate them together in some way.

• irrelevant

  Irrelevant information is unrelated or unconnected to the situation at hand.

• rebuke

  When you rebuke someone, you harshly scold or criticize them for something they've done.

• recrimination

  A recrimination is a retaliatory accusation you make against someone who has accused you of something first.

• referendum

  A referendum is a suggested measure or other concern that is brought before the people for a vote.

• refulgent

  Something refulgent is glowing, shining brightly, or brilliant.

• regression

  Regression is the falling back or return to a previous state.

• regurgitate

  When you regurgitate, you throw up or vomit; this word also refers to simply repeating what someone else has already said so you don't have to put in any thought.

• rehabilitate

  When someone is rehabilitated, they are restored to a more normal way of life, such as returning to good health or a crime-free life.

• reimburse

  When you reimburse someone, you pay back the money that you borrowed from them, or you repay them for damages or losses they have suffered because of you.

• reinstate

  When you reinstate someone, you give back their job or position that they lost; this word also refers to restoring to use something that was no longer being used.

• reiterate

  When you reiterate what you've just said, you repeat it or say it again.

• relinquish

  When you relinquish something, you give it up or let it go.

• reminiscent

  Something that is reminiscent of something else reminds you of it in some way.

• remission

  When something, such as a disease or storm, is in remission, its force is lessening or decreasing.

• renounce

  To renounce something, such as a position or practice, is to let go of it or reject it.

• renovate

  When you renovate something, such as a home or other building, you modernize or make it like new again.

• repercussion

  A repercussion of an act or event is the result or effect of it.

• replenish

  When you replenish something, you refill or restock it.

• repose

  If you are in a state of repose, your mind is at peace or your body is at rest.

• repository

  A repository is a safe place, such as a chest or storage area, to keep possessions or other objects.

• reprieve

  A reprieve is a temporary relief from or cancellation of a punishment; it can also be a relief from something, such as pain or trouble of some kind.

• reprimand

  When you are given a reprimand, you are scolded, blamed, or given a talking-to by someone for something wrong that you did.

• repulsive

  Something that is repulsive is offensive, highly unpleasant, or just plain disgusting.

• requiem

  A requiem is a mass at a funeral or a piece of music written for the dead.

• residual

  Something that is residual is the part that still stays or remains after the main part is taken away.

• resurgence

  A resurgence is a rising again or comeback of something.

• retaliate

  When you retaliate, you get back at or get even with someone for something that they did to you.

• retention

  Retention is the act or condition of keeping or holding on to something, including the ability to remember things.

• retort

  When you give a retort to what someone has said, you reply in a quick and witty fashion.

• reverberate

  When a sound reverberates, it echoes or rebounds continuously from one place to another.

• reversion

  A reversion is a turning back again to a previous state or condition.

• unrelenting

  If you are unrelenting in your desire to do something, you stop at nothing until you've done it.

• unrestrained

  Someone who is unrestrained is free to do as they please; they are not controlled by anyone but themself, which can lead to excessive behavior.

• revulsion

  When you experience revulsion, you feel a great deal of disgust or extreme dislike for something.

• restore

  When you restore something, you bring it back to its original condition.

• resignation

  A feeling of resignation is one of accepting something that you really don't want to do.

• remorse

  Someone who is feeling remorse feels bad or guilty about something they've done.

• reserved

  Someone who is reserved is quiet, self-controlled, and keeps their thoughts mostly to themselves.

• irreversible

  When an irreversible act is done, it cannot be undone or fixed in any way.

• revelation

  A revelation is the uncovering or telling of once-secret information that is often surprising or valuable.

• reinforce

  When you reinforce something, you make it stronger or give extra support to it.

• refuge

  A refuge is a place to stay or live that offers shelter and protection.

• resume

  When you resume an activity, you start it up again or return to it.

• reliquary

  A reliquary is a receptacle or container that displays sacred relics—and keeps them safe.

• responsible

  If you are responsible for something, you are the cause of it and so can be blamed for it.

• reveal

  When you reveal something, you show or tell people about it who did not know about it before.

• resident

  A resident of a place—such as a town, apartment building, or country—lives there on a long-term basis.

• retain

  When you retain something, you keep it or have it for a long time.

• reverse

  When something is reversed, it is changed to something completely different.

• reaction

  A reaction to something is a person's response to it or how they act when it happens.

• report

  When you report, you give information or tell about something.

• reject

  When you reject something, you do not accept or agree with it.

• respect

  When you have respect for someone, you value that person highly or believe in them; thus, you treat them in a fair and kind way.

• release

  When you release something, such as a bird, you let it go or give it freedom.

• remove

  When you remove something, you take it away from or off something else.

• recognize

  If you recognize someone, you know them when you see them because you have seen, learned about, or met them in the past.

• reserve

  When you reserve something, you keep it for yourself so that you are able to use it when you need to.

• reduce

  When you reduce something, you make it smaller in size or amount.

• respond

  When you respond to something that someone does or says, you act on it or reply to it.

• relax

  If someone is relaxing, they are resting, not working, and being calm.

• recommend

  When someone recommends something to you, they tell you about it because they think that it would be useful or good for you.

• relation

  A relation is a link of some kind between things or people.

• reform

  When something reforms, it changes in some way for the better.

• refer

  When you refer to something, you mention or speak about it.

• recovery

  When someone is in recovery, they are getting better and becoming healthy once again.

• revert

  When something reverts, it turns back to a former state or condition.

• relate

  When you relate two things, you show how they are linked to or like one another.

• resist

  When you resist something, you try to stop it from happening by fighting or working against it.

• rearrangement

  changing an arrangement

• recede

  pull back or move away or backward

• reciprocal

  concerning each of two or more persons or things

• redeem

  save from sins

• reduction

  the act of decreasing or reducing something

• reflect

  manifest or bring back

• regenerative

  able to give new life or vigor to

• reincarnate

  be born anew in another body after death

• rejuvenation

  the phenomenon of vitality and freshness being restored

• remit

  send (money) in payment

• repeal

  cancel officially

• repel

  cause to move back by force or influence

• referent

  having reference