re-

prefix

1》 once more; afresh; anew: reactivate.

    ↘with return to a previous state: restore.

2》 (also red-) in return; mutually: resemble.

    ↘in opposition: repel.

3》 behind or after: relic.

    ↘in a withdrawn state: reticent.

    ↘back and away; down: recede.

4》 with frequentative or intensive force: resound.

5》 with negative force: recant.

Origin

from L. re-, red- 'again, back'.

Usage

Words formed with re- tend to be unhyphenated: restore, reacquaint. An exception to this occurs when the word to which re- attaches begins with e, in which case a hyphen is often inserted for clarity: re-examine, re-enter. A hyphen is sometimes also used where the word formed with the prefix would be identical to an already existing word: re-cover (meaning ‘cover again’) not recover (meaning ‘get better in health’).