Etymology dictionary

rectifier (n.) — Red Sea (n.)

rectifier (n.)

"one who or that which rectifies" in any sense, 1610s, agent noun from rectify.

c. 1400, rectifien, "to cure, heal, remedy" (a bad or faulty condition); early 15c. "set (someone) straight in conduct or behavior;" late 15c., "correct an error, set (something) straight or right;" from Old French rectifier, literally "to make straight" (14c.), from Late Latin rectificare "make right, make straight," from Latin rectus "straight" (from PIE root *reg- "move in a straight line," with derivatives meaning "to direct in a straight line") + combining form of facere "to make" (from PIE root *dhe- "to set, put"). Sense of "remove impurities from a distillate" is from mid-15c. Related: Rectified; rectifying.

rectilinear (adj.)

1650s, "forming a straight line," with -ar + rectiline (1560s), from Late Latin rectilineus, from rectus "straight" (from PIE root *reg- "move in a straight line," with derivatives meaning "to direct in a straight line") + linea "line" (see line (n.)). Of a figure, "bounded by straight lines," 1728. Related: Rectilineal "straight-lined" (1640s); rectilinearity.

rectitude (n.)

early 15c., "straightness, quality of being straight or erect," from Old French rectitude (14c.) and directly from Late Latin rectitudinem (nominative rectitudo) "straightness, uprightness," from Latin rectus "straight" (from PIE root *reg- "move in a straight line," with derivatives meaning "to direct in a straight line"). Sense of "uprightness in conduct or character, rightness of principle or practice" is from 1530s.

recto (n.)

"right-hand page in an open book" (opposed to verso or reverso), 1824, from Latin recto (in recto folio), ablative of rectum "right" (see right (adj.2)).

recto-

word-forming element in anatomy meaning "rectal, pertaining to or involving the rectum," before vowels rect-, from combining form of rectum.

rector (n.)

late 14c., rectour (late 13c. as a surname, early 13c. in Anglo-Latin), "ruler of a country or people" (a sense now obsolete), from Latin rector "ruler, governor, director, guide," from rect-, past participle stem of regere "to rule, guide" (from PIE root *reg- "move in a straight line," with derivatives meaning "to direct in a straight line," thus "to lead, rule").

The meaning "head of a college or religious community" is by early 15c., though the exact religious sense varies across place and time and with different denominations. Used originally of Roman governors and God; by 18c. generally restricted to clergymen and college heads. Fem. forms were rectress (c. 1600); rectrix (1610s). Related: Rectorship; rectorial.

rectory (n.)

mid-15c. (in rectorie-bok), "benefice held by a rector, parish church or parsonage," with all its rights and privileges, from French rectorie (14c.) or Medieval Latin rectoria, from rector (see rector). In reference to his residence or house by 1849.

rectum (n.)

in anatomy, "the terminal section of the intestine, ending in the anus," early 15c., from Latin intestinum rectum "straight intestine" (in contrast to the convolution of the rest of the bowels), from neuter past participle of regere "to keep straight" (from PIE root *reg- "move in a straight line"). A loan-translation of Greek apeuthysmeon enteron, "the name given to the lowest part of the large intestine by Galen, who so called it because he dissected only animals whose rectum (in contradistinction to that of man) is really straight" [Klein].

recumbent (adj.)

"leaning, reclining," 1705, from Latin recumbentem (nominative recumbens), present participle of recumbere "recline, lie down, lie down again;" of things, "to fall, sink down, settle down," from re- "back" (see re-) + -cumbere "to lie down" (related to cubare "lie down;" see cubicle). Related: Recumbency (1640s); recumbence (1670s). A verb, recumb, has been attempted in English occasionally since 1670s.

recuperation (n.)

late 15c., "recovery or regaining of things, recovery as of something lost" (a sense now obsolete), from Latin recuperationem (nominative recuperatio) "a getting back, regaining, recovery," noun of action from past-participle stem of recuperare "get back, regain, get again," in Medieval Latin "revive, convalesce, recover," which is related to or a variant of recipere "to hold, contain" (see receive). Meaning "restoration to health or vigor" is from 1865.

recuperate (v.)

1540s, "recover, regain," from Latin recuperatus, past participle of recuperare "to get again," in Medieval Latin "revive, convalesce, recover," which is related to recipere "to hold, contain" (see receive). Specific sense of "recover from exhaustion or sickness" is from 1864. Related: Recuperated; recuperating.

recur (v.)

late 14c., recuren, "to recover from illness or suffering" (a sense now obsolete); mid-15c., "to return" (to or into a place), from Latin recurrere "to return, run back, hasten back," figuratively "revert, recur," from re- "back, again" (see re-) + currere "to run" (from PIE root *kers- "to run"). Originally of persons; application to thoughts, ideas, etc., "return to the mind," is recorded from 1620s. Meaning "happen again" is from 1670s. Related: Recurred; recurring.

recurring (adj.)

"returning," 1711, present-participle adjective from recur.

recurrence (n.)

"a return; the act of recurring," 1640s; see recurrent + -ence. Related: Recurrency (1610s).

recurrent (adj.)

"returning from time to time, reappearing, repeated," 1660s, from French recurrent (16c.) and directly from Latin recurrentem (nominative recurrens), present participle of recurrere "run back, hasten back, return" (see recur). From 1590s as a noun ("recurrent artery or nerve," one turned back on itself).

recursion (n.)

"return, backward movement," 1610s, from Latin recursionem (nominative recursio) "a running backward, return," noun of action from past-participle stem of recurrere "run back" (see recur).

recursive (adj.)

1790, "periodically recurring," from Latin recurs-, stem of recurrere "run back" (see recur) + -ive. Mathematical sense is from 1934. Related: Recursively; recursiveness.

recurve (v.)

also re-curve, "curve back, turn backward," 1620s, from re- "back" + curve (v.), or else from Latin recurvare. Related: Recurved; recurving; recurvation (1590s); recurvant; recurvature. The earlier verb was now-obsolete recurvate (1590s).

recusal (n.)

"an objection to a judge as prejudiced" (usually reflective), 1911; from recuse + -al (2). Earlier were recusancy "obstinate refusal or opposition" (1560s), recusance (1590s); recusation (c. 1400), as a legal term for an interposition of an objection or challenge for cause to a judge, arbitration, etc.

recusant (adj.)

"obstinate in refusal," 1610s, from Latin recusantem (nominative recusans) "refusing to obey," present participle of recusare "make an objection against; decline, refuse, reject; be reluctant to" (see recuse).

Earlier as a noun in English history, specifically of those who refused to attend divine service in Anglican churches (1550s), a punishable offense, enforcement of which fell heavily on Roman Catholics. The original use of the adjective also is in reference to this.

recuse (v.)

late 14c., recusen, "to decline, refuse," especially "reject another's authority or jurisdiction over oneself as prejudiced," from Old French recuser (13c.) and directly from Latin recusare "make an objection against; decline, refuse, reject; be reluctant to," from re- (see re-) + causa (see cause (n.)). Specifically, in law, "reject or challenge (a judge or juror) as disqualified to act." The word now is used mostly reflectively. Related: Recused; recusing; recisative.

recycle (v.)

"to reuse material," 1922, originally of industrial processes; see re- + cycle (v.). Specifically of waste material reclaimed or converted into usable form, by 1960. General or figurative use is by 1969. Related: Recycled; recycling.

recycling (n.)

1924, verbal noun from recycle (v.). Originally a technical term in oil-refining and similar industries; its broader consumer sense dates from 1960.

recyclable (adj.)

"capable of being recycled," by 1970, from recycle + -able. As a noun, by 1971. Related: Recyclables.

redness (n.)

"quality of being red; a red color," Middle English rednesse, from Old English readnes; see red (adj.1) + -ness.

*red-

*rēd-, Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to scrape, scratch, gnaw."

It forms (possibly) all or part of: abrade; abrasion; corrode; corrosion; erase; erode; erosion; radula; rascal; rase; rash (n.) "eruption of small red spots on skin;" raster; rat; raze; razor; rodent; rostrum; tabula rasa.

It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Sanskrit radati "scrapes, gnaws," radanah "tooth;" Latin rodere "to gnaw, eat away," radere "to scrape;" Welsh rhathu "scrape, polish."

red (v.)

"make red, redden; become red," Middle English reden, redden, from Old English reodan, readian (past tense read, plural rudon), from the source of red (adj.1). In Old English often "stain with blood, wound, kill."

red (adj.2)

"Bolshevik, ultra-radical, revolutionary," 1917, from red (adj.1), the color they adopted for themselves. The association in Europe of red with revolutionary politics (on notion of blood and violence) is from at least 1297, but got a boost 1793 with adoption of the red Phrygian cap (French bonnet rouge) as symbol of the French Revolution. The first specific political reference in English was in 1848 (adj.), in reports of the Second French Republic (a.k.a. Red Republic).

Red Army is from 1918; Red China is attested from 1934. Red-baiting is attested by 1929. The noun meaning "a radical, a communist" is from 1851.

red (adj.1)

"of a bright, warm color resembling that of blood or of the highest part of the primery rainbow" [Century Dictionary], Middle English rēd, redde, read, reid, from Old English rēad, used of various shades of purple, crimson, scarlet, pink, etc.; also red clothes, dye, ink, wine, or paint, also "having a ruddy or reddish complexion; red-haired, red-bearded;" from Proto-Germanic *rauthan (source also of Old Norse rauðr, Danish rød, Old Saxon rod, Old Frisian rad, Middle Dutch root, Dutch rood, German rot, Gothic rauþs).

This is reconstructed to be from a PIE root *reudh- "red, ruddy," the only color for which a definite common PIE root word has been found. It also is the root of native ruddy, rust, and, via Latin, ruby, rubric, russet, etc.

Along with dead, bread (n.), lead (n.1), its long vowel shortened in or after Middle English. The surname Read, Reid, Reade, etc. represents the old form of the adjective and retains the original Old English long vowel pronunciation. It corresponds to Brown, Black, White; Red itself being rare as a surname. As the color designation of Native Americans in English from 1580s.

In fixed comparisons, red as blood (Old English), roses (mid-13c.), cherry (c. 1400). From Old English as the color characteristic of inflammation, blistering, etc. Of the complexion, lips, etc., "ruddy, rosy, red" (c. 1200); also of person with a healthy complexion or skin color; to be red in the face as a result of powerful emotion or agitation is by c. 1200; to see red "get angry" is an American English expression attested by 1898.

Red as the characteristic color of "British possessions" on a map is attested from 1885. Red-white-and-blue in reference to American patriotism, from the colors of the flag, is from 1840; in a British context, in reference to the Union flag, 1852.

Red rover, the children's game, attested from 1891. Red ball signifying "express" in railroad jargon is by 1904, originally (1899) a system of moving and tracking freight cars. Red dog, type of U.S. football pass rush, is recorded from 1959 (earlier "lowest grade of flour produced in a mill," by 1889). Red meat, that which is ordinarily served or preferred undercooked, is from 1808; the food of wild beasts, hence its figurative use for something that satisfies a basic appetite (by 1792; popular from late 20c.).

Red shift in spectography is first recorded 1923. Red carpet "sumptuous welcome" is from 1934, but the custom for dignitaries is described as far back as Aeschylus ("Agamemnon"); it also was the name of a type of English moth. Red ant is from 1660s.

red (n.)

"the color red; red pigment; ruddiness; red wine," mid-13c., from red (adj.1). Compare Old High German roti, German röthe "redness, red," from the adjective in German. As "a person with red hair" from early 14c. In finance, in the red for "overdrawn, losing money" is by 1926, from the color formerly conventional for recording debts and balances in accounts.

-red

word-forming element meaning "condition or state of," Middle English, from Old English -rede, from ræden "condition, rule, reckoning," a suffixed form of ræd "to advise, rule" (see rede). Common in Old English, less so in Middle English but still active in word-formation. It is analogous to -hood, which has replaced it in brotherhood, neighborhood, etc.; it survives in about 25 words.

redact (v.)

late 14c., redacten, "combine in a unity;" c. 1400, "compile, arrange" (laws, codes, etc.); early 15c., "bring into organized form;" from Latin redactus, past participle of redigere "to drive back, force back; bring back; collect, call in; bring down, reduce to a certain state," from red- "back, again" (see re-) + agere "to set in motion, drive, do, perform" (from PIE root *ag- "to drive, draw out or forth, move").

The specific meaning "arrange, edit, bring into presentable literary form" is from 1851. Also in Middle English "to reduce" (to ashes, powder, etc.), early 15c. Related: Redacted; redacting; redactor; rédacteur.

redaction (n.)

"act of reducing to order and editing for publication," 1785, from French rédaction "a compiling; a working over, editing; editorial staff" (late 17c.), noun of action or state from past-participle stem of Latin redigere "to drive back, force back; bring back; collect, call in; bring down, reduce to a certain state," from red- "back, again" (see re-) + agere "to set in motion, drive, do, perform" (from PIE root *ag- "to drive, draw out or forth, move").

Meaning "a redacted version, a special version of a work revised or rewritten" is from 1810. Earlier it had a now-obsolete sense of "a driving back" (1620s).

redan (n.)

type of fortification, 1680s, from French redan, from redent "a double notching" (as of the teeth of a saw), from re- "back, again" (see re-) + dent, from Latin dens "tooth" (from PIE root *dent- "tooth").

redbird (n.)

also red-bird, mid-13c. (as a surname), a name for "sundry red or partly red birds," including the common European bullfinch and the scarlet tanager (1660s), but in Eastern U.S. especially the cardinal; from red (adj.1) + bird (n.).

red-blooded (adj.)

1802, "having red or reddish blood," from red (adj.1) + blood (n.). "Specifically noting the higher worms, or annelids, in which, however, the blood is often greenish" [Century Dictionary]. The figurative meaning "vigorous, spirited" is recorded by 1862.

redbone (adj.)

by 1886 in American English in reference to a type of hound bred in the South, with a red or red and tan coat, used especially to hunt raccoons and fugitives. The name probably has some connection to the term Redbone as used in 19c. southern U.S. to denote a mulatto or mixed-race culture.

red book (n.)

from late 15c. in reference to various important medieval books with red covers; as "The Peerage," 1788; as "book containing the names of all persons in the service of the state," 1800. Mao's Little Red Book, containing his expressions and dictums, is attested in English by that name from 1967.

redbreast (n.)

also red-breast, early 14c., of the English robin (Erithacus rubecula), from red (adj.1) + breast (n.). Later of the larger, orange-breasted American bird (Turdus migratorius). Related: Red-breasted.

redcap (n.)

also red-cap, "porter at a railroad station," 1914, American English, from red (adj.1) + cap (n.). Earlier it was the name of the goldfinch, a type of domestic hen, a long-toothed spectre in Scottish castles, and anyone who wears a red hat (1540s).

red cent (n.)

type of copper penny, 1839, American English, from red (adj.1) + cent. Pure copper pennies were issued 1793—1857, then replaced by ones of copper-nickel and, after 1864, bronze. The old cents were disused, but the phrase remained colloquial as a mere emphatic of cent, usually in the negative (don't have a ... not worth a ...). "Red" has been the color of copper, brass, and gold since ancient times.

redcoat (n.)

also red-coat, "British soldier," 1510s, from red (adj.1) + coat (n.). In Britain, especially of Cromwellian troops in the English Civil War; in the U.S., of British soldiers in the American Revolution. Blackcoat (1620s) was an old disparaging term for a clergyman.

red cross (n.)

early 15c. as the national emblem of England (St. George's Cross), also the badge of the Order of the Temple. Hence red-cross knight, one bearing such a marking on shield or crest. In 17c., a red cross was the mark placed on the doors of London houses infected with the plague. The red cross was adopted as a symbol of ambulance service in 1864 by the Geneva Conference, and the Red Cross Society (later also, in Muslim lands, Red Crescent) philanthropic organization was founded to carry out the views of the 1864 conference as well as other works of relief.

redd (v.)

also red, c. 1300, redden, "to clear" (a space, etc.), "rid of encumbrance," from Old English hreddan "to save, free from (Satan, guilt, etc.), deliver, recover, rescue," from Proto-Germanic *hradjan (source also of Old Frisian hredda, Dutch redden, Old High German retten).

Sense evolution tended to merge it with unrelated rid. It is also possibly influenced by Old English rædan "to arrange," which is related to Old English geræde, source of ready (adj.). Related: Redding.

A dialect word in Scotland and northern England, where it has had senses of "to fix" (boundaries), "to comb" (out one's hair), "to separate" (combatants), "to settle" (a quarrel). The exception to the limited use is the meaning "to put in order, to make neat or trim" (1718), especially in redd up, which is in general use in England and the U.S. The same phrase, in the same sense, in Pennsylvania Dutch may be from cognate Low German and Dutch redden, obviously connected historically to the English word, "but the origin and relationship of the forms is not clear" [OED].

redden (v.)

1610s, "make read;" 1640s, "become red" (especially of the face, with shame, etc.), from red (adj.1) + -en (1). The older verb form is Middle English reden, Old English readian, reodian "become red;" see red (v.). Related: Reddened; reddening.

redder (n.)

"one who sets or puts in order," especially "one who tries to settle a quarrel," mid-15c., Scottish, agent noun from redd (v.).

reddish (adj.)

"somewhat red, of a color approaching red, having a red tinge," late 14c., redish, from red (adj.1) + -ish. Related: Reddishness.

rede (n.)

"counsel, advice," Old English ræd "advice, counsel," from Proto-Germanic *redin (source also of Old Saxon rad "advice, counsel, help, advantage," Old Frisian red "council, advice," Dutch raad "advice, counsel," German Rat "advice, counsel," Old Norse rað "advice, consideration, remedy, power; marriage"), from the source of read (v.), which originally meant "to advise, counsel." A very frequent word in Old English and early Middle English, falling from literary use 17c. until revived somewhat in 19th century archaic and poetic diction.

redeemable (adj.)

"capable of being redeemed" in any sense; "admitting of redemption; capable of being paid off," 1610s, from redeem + -able. As a noun (redeemables) "redeemable property, etc.," by 1720.

redeem (v.)

early 15c., redemen, "buy back, ransom, recover by purchase," also in a theological sense, "deliver from sin and spiritual death," from Old French redimer "buy back" and directly from Latin redimere "to redeem, buy back," from red- "back" (see re-) + emere "to take, buy, gain, procure" (from PIE root *em- "to take, distribute").

In Middle English, Latin redimere sometimes was translated as againbuy. The general sense of "rescue, deliver, save" is from late 15c. The meaning "make amends for" is from 1520s. Sense of "make good, perform, fulfill" (a promise, obligation, etc.) is from 1840. The commercial sense of "receive back by paying the obligation" is by 1889. The sense of "save (time) from being lost" (Tyndale, Shakespeare, Young, Cowper, Eliot) is after Ephesians v.16, Colossians iv.5. Related: Redeemed; redeeming; redempt (obsolete).

redeemer (n.)

early 15c., redemer, "one who redeems, answers, or atones for another or others," agent noun from redeem. Originally in the Christian sense, "Jesus Christ as Savior of the world;" it replaced earlier redemptor.

redeeming (adj.)

"making amends," 1754, present-participle adjective from redeem (v.).

redefine (v.)

"define again," 1848, from re- + define. Related: Redefined; redefining; redefinition.

redemption (n.)

mid-14c., redemcioun, "deliverance from sin," from Old French redemcion (12c.) and directly from Latin redemptionem (nominative redemptio) "a buying back or off, a releasing, a ransoming" (also "bribery"), noun of action from past-participle stem of redimere "to redeem, buy back," from red- "back" (see re-) + emere "to take, buy, gain, procure" (from PIE root *em- "to take, distribute").

The -d- is from the Old Latin habit of using red- as the form of re- before vowels, as also preserved in redact, redolent, redundant. The general sense of "release, repurchase, deliverance" is from late 15c. Commercial sense is from late 15c. Year of Redemption as "Anno Domini" is from 1510s. In the Mercian hymns, Latin redemptionem is glossed by Old English alesnisse.

redemptive (adj.)

"redeeming, serving to redeem," 1640s, from redempt (mid-15c.), adjective from Latin redemptus, past participle of redimere "to redeem, buy back" (see redemption) + -ive. Related: Redemptively. Other adjective forms were redemptory (1590s), redemptoric (1889); redemptorial (1823).

redemptioner (n.)

"one who is or may be redeemed or set at liberty," specifically, in U.S. history, "indentured servant," 1775, from redemption + -er (1).

Redemptorist (n.)

member of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (founded Naples, 1732, by St. Alphonsus Liguori), 1835 in English; see redemption. Noted for their missionary work among the poor. Fem. form is Redemptoristine.

redeploy (v.)

"move (troops or resources) from one area of activity to another," 1945, in reference to U.S. soldiers shifting from Europe to Asia after the fall of Berlin, from re- "again, anew" + deploy. Related: Redeployed; redeploying.

redeployment (n.)

"movement or reallocation" of troops, resources, etc., 1945; see re- "again, anew" + deployment.

redesign (n.)

"a new or fresh design; a designing again," 1881, probably from redesign (v.).

redesign (v.)

"to design again," 1843, from re- "again" + design (v.). Related: Redesigned; redesigning.

redevelopment (n.)

also re-development, "a developing anew or again" in any sense, 1830, originally in photography, from re- + development. General sense is by 1882.

redevelop (v.)

also re-develop, 1852, "to develop again" in any sense; see re- "again" + develop. Specific city planning sense is by 1936. Related: Redeveloped; redeveloping.

red-eye (n.)

"airplane flight which deprives travelers of sleep," 1968, from the red eyes of sleeplessness; earlier it was a noun meaning "raw and inferior whiskey" (1819, American English); it also has been used of various fish.

redfish (n.)

also red-fish, 15c., used of various species in different places and times, especially originally the male salmon in spawning season; from red (adj.1) + fish (n.). So called for their color or markings.

red flag (n.)

"a sign of danger or warning," 1777, from red (adj.1) + flag (n.1). A red flag was used as a symbol of defiance in battle on land or sea from c. 1600.

red-handed (adj.)

1781, earlier red-hand (early 15c.), originally in Scottish legal writing, from red (adj.1) + -handed; presumably from the image of a murderer's hands stained with fresh blood, extended figuratively to one caught in perpetration of any crime.

redhead (n.)

"person having red hair," mid-13c. (1256 as a surname), from red (adj.1) + head (n.). Red (adj.), of persons, "having red hair" is from late Old English. Both Cain and Judas formerly were reputed to have had red or reddish-yellow beards.

As an adjective, "having red hair," from 1660s. Red-headed is attested from 1660s; red-haired from c. 1500.

red herring (n.)

"smoked herring" early 15c. (they turn red when cured), as opposed to white herring "fresh herring." Supposedly used by fugitives to put bloodhounds off their scent (1680s), hence metaphoric sense (1864) of "something used to divert attention from the basic issue;" earlier it simply meant "a false lead":

red-hot (adj.)

late 14c., "red with heat, heated till it glows red" (of metal, etc.); in reference to persons, "lively, passionate," it is recorded from c. 1600. Red-hot mama is 1926, jazz slang, "earthy female singer," also "girlfriend, lover."

redial (v.)

also re-dial, "dial again," 1961, from re- + dial (v.). Related: Redialed; redialing.

redingote (n.)

"double-breasted outer coat with long plain skirts," also a similar garment for women, 1793, from French redingote (1725), representing a French pronunciation of English riding coat (c. 1500).

red ink (n.)

"financial losses, the debit side of an account," 1929, from the red ink traditionally used to indicate debits in accounts. Earlier, "cheap wine" (1919).

redintegrate (v.)

see reintegrate. Related: Redintegrated; redintegrating; redintegration.

redirect (v.)

also re-direct, "direct again or anew" in any sense, 1805 (implied in redirected), from re- "back, again" + direct (v.). Related: Redirecting.

rediscover (v.)

also re-discover, "discover again or anew," 1752, from re- + discover (v.). Related: Rediscovered; rediscovering.

rediscovery (n.)

also re-discovery, "a discovering again or afresh," 1747, from re- "back, again" + discovery.

redispose (v.)

also re-dispose, "dispose again or anew," 1733; see re- "back, again" + dispose (v.). Related: Redisposed; redisposing.

redistribute (v.)

also re-distribute, "distribute again, apportion afresh," 1610s, from re- "back, again" + distribute. Political economy sense is by 1863. Related: Redistributed; redistributing.

redistribution (n.)

also re-distribution, "a dealing back, a second or new distribution," 1831, from French redistribution; see re- + distribution.

redistributive (adj.)

"of or pertaining to redistribution," especially of wealth, 1860; see redistribute + -ive. Related: Redistributively.

redistrict (v.)

"divide or apportion (a state) again into districts; redraw the boundaries of districts," 1838, in U.S. political sense, from re- "again" + district. Related: Redistricted; redistricting.

redivide (v.)

also re-divide, "to divide again," c. 1600, from re- "back, again" + divide (v.). Related: Redivided; redividing.

red-letter (adj.)

"having a rubricated letter; written or drawn in red ink," late 14c., from red (adj.1) + letter (n.). A red-letter day (late 14c.) originally was a saint's day, marked on church calendars in red letters.

red-light (adj.)

a red light as a sign to stop is from 1849, long before traffic signals; see red (adj.1) + light (n.). As the name of a children's game (in reference to the traffic light meaning) it is recorded from 1953.

The use of red-light district to indicate a city district with many brothels is by 1896.

redline (v.)

also red-line, "mark in red ink," 1820, from red (adj.1) + line (v.). Specific sense of "deny loans to certain neighborhoods based on ethnicity" is from 1973, on notion of lines drawn on maps. Used earlier in reference to insurance company practices (by 1956) and in World War II military slang in reference to a red line drawn through a soldier's name for some infraction, thus denying his pay. Related: Redlined; redlining.

redneck (n.)

"poor and poorly educated Southern U.S. white person, cracker," attested 1830 in a specialized sense ("This may be ascribed to the Red Necks, a name bestowed upon the Presbyterians in Fayetteville" — Ann Royall, "Southern Tour I," p.148), from red (adj.1) + neck (n.).

According to various theories, red perhaps from anger, or from pellagra, but most likely from mule farmers' outdoors labor in the sun, wearing a shirt and straw hat, with the neck exposed. Compare redshanks, old derogatory name for Scots Highlanders and Celtic Irish (1540s), from their going bare-legged.

It turns up again in an American context in 1904, again from Fayetteville, in a list of dialect words, meaning this time "an uncouth countryman" ["Dialect Notes," American Dialect Society, vol. ii, part vi, 1904], but seems not to have been in widespread use in the U.S. before c. 1915. In the meantime, it was used from c. 1894 in South Africa (translating Dutch Roinek) as an insulting Boer name for "an Englishman."

red-nosed (adj.)

c. 1600, typically in reference to drunkenness, from red (adj.1) + nose (n.). Red-nose (adj.) indicating "drunken" is by 1580s.

redo (v.)

also re-do, "to do over again," 1590s, from re- "back, again" + do (v.). Meaning "redecorate" is by 1864. Related: Redone; redoing.

redolent (adj.)

c. 1400, of flowers, food, etc., "having or diffusing a fresh and sweet scent," from Old French redolent "emitting an odor" and directly from Latin redolentem (nominative redolens), present participle of redolere "emit a scent, diffuse odor," from red-, here perhaps an intensive prefix (see re-), + olere "give off a smell" (see odor). The meaning "odorous or smelling" of (or with) something is by 1700; figurative use of this is by 1828. Related: Redolently.

redolence (n.)

early 15c., "sweet scent, fragrance," also figurative, from Old French redolence, redolens, which is related to redolent "emitting an odor" (see redolent) or from Medieval Latin redolentia.

redouble (v.)

mid-15c., redoublen, "double (something) again or repeatedly, multiply" (transitive), from Old French redobler, redoubler, from re- "again" (see re-) + doubler "to double" (see double (v.)). Intransitive meaning "become twice as much" is from late 15c. Related: Redoubled; redoubling.

redoubt (n.)

also redout, "small, enclosed military work," c. 1600, from French redoute (17c.), from Italian ridotto, earlier ridotta, "place of retreat," from Medieval Latin reductus "place of refuge, retreat," noun use of past participle of reducere "to lead or bring back" (see reduce). The unetymological -b- was added by influence of unrelated and now obsolete English verb redoubt "to dread, fear" (see redoubtable). As an adjective, Latin reductus meant "withdrawn, retired; remote, distant."

redoubtable (adj.)

late 14c., of persons, "worthy of honor, venerable" (a sense now obsolete); late 15c., "that is to be dreaded or feared, formidable, terrible," also often "valiant," from Old French redoutable (12c.), from redouter "to dread," from re-, intensive prefix, + douter "be afraid of" (see doubt (v.)).

The verb also was in Middle English, redouten, "to fear, dread; stand in awe or apprehension of; honor" (late 14c., from Old French) and was used through 19c., though OED marks it "now rhetorical."

redound (v.)

late 14c., redounden, "to overflow, flow abundantly; abound, multiply, increase" (senses now obsolete), also "to flow or go back" (to a place or person), "be sent, rolled, or driven back," from Old French redonder "overflow, abound, be in profusion" (12c.), from Latin redundare "to overflow" (see redundant). Hence "to contribute, have effect" (to the credit, honor, etc.), early 15c. Related: Redounded; redounding.

redox (n.)

in chemistry, by 1928, from reduction + oxidation.

redress (v.)

mid-14c., redressen, "to correct, reform" (a person; a sense now obsolete); late 14c., "restore, put right" (a wrong, error, offense); "repair; relieve; improve; amend," from Old French redrecier, redresier, "reform, restore, rebuild" (Modern French redresser), from re- "again" (see re-) + drecier "to straighten, arrange" (see dress (v.)). Formerly used in many more senses than currently. Related: Redressed; redressing.

redressal (n.)

"a setting right again," 1800, from redress (v.) + -al (2). Earlier noun were redress (n.) "reparation, compensation, adjustment" (late 14c.); redressing (early 15c.); redressment (1640s).

redress (n.)

late 14c., redresse, "reparation, compensation for injustice, injury, loss, etc., adjustment," late 14c., from Anglo-French redresce, Old French redrece, redresse, from redrecier, redresier (see redress (v.)).

Red Sea (n.)

the Greek thalassa erythra; the reason for the name is unknown; speculation has traced it to: 1. algae in coastal waters; 2. sandstone rock formations on the shores; 3. a tribal name; 4. ancient association of "red" with "south" (as "black" with "north").