Etymology dictionary

repertory (n.) — repudiatory (adj.)

repertory (n.)

1550s, "an index, list, catalogue," from Late Latin repertorium "inventory, list," from Latin repertus, past participle of reperire "to find, get, invent," from re-, here perhaps an intensive prefix (see re-), + parire, archaic form of paerere "produce, bring forth" (from PIE root *pere- (1) "to produce, procure").

The meaning "list of performances an actor or company can stage" is recorded by 1845, from similar use of French repertoire; repertory theater is attested from 1896. Related: Repertorial.

repetitive (adj.)

"containing repetitions, characterized by or of the nature of repetition," 1805, from Latin repetit-, past-participle stem of repetere "do or say again" (see repeat (v.)) + -ive. Related: Repetitively; repetitiveness. Other adjectives, in addition to repetitious (1670s) included repetitionary (1720), repetitional (1720).

repetition (n.)

early 15c., repeticioun, "act of saying over again," from Old French repetition and directly from Latin repetitionem (nominative repetitio) "a repeating," noun of action from past-participle stem of repetere "do or say again" (see repeat (v.)). Of actions or events recurring or done again, attested from 1590s; specifically in physical fitness from 1958. Related: Repetitions.

repetitious (adj.)

"employing repetition," often with suggestions of tiresomeness, 1670s, from Latin repetit-, past-participle stem of repetere "do or say again" (see repeat (v.)) + -ous. Compare repetitive. Regarded in 19c. England as an Americanism. Related: Repetitiously; repetitiousness.

rephrase (v.)

also re-phrase, "express in another way, change or adjust the wording of," 1872, from re- "again" + phrase (v.). Related: Rephrased; rephrasing.

repine (v.)

"to manifest dissatisfaction, be fretfully discontented," mid-15c., repinen, probably from re-, here likely an intensive prefix, + pine (v.) "yearn," "but the formation is unusual" [OED]. Gray seems to have coined the transitive sense of "to long" for something (1742). Related: Repined; repining.

replaceable (adj.)

"capable of being replaced, that may be replaced," 1799, from replace (v.) + -able. Related: Replaceability.

replace (v.)

1590s, "to restore to a previous place or position," from re- "back, again" + place (v.). Meaning "to take the place of" is recorded from 1753; that of "to fill the place of (with something else)" is from 1765. Related: Replaced; replacing.

replacement (n.)

"act or fact of being replaced," 1790, from replace (v.) + -ment. Meaning "something that replaces another" is attested from 1894.

replay (v.)

"to play again" in any sense, 1630s, from re- "again" + play (v.). By 1862, in sporting jargon (curling), "to play (a match) again." Of sound recordings (later video, etc.), "reproduce what has been recorded," by 1912. Related: Replayed; replaying.

The noun is from 1895 as "a replayed match" in sports. The meaning "action of replaying" a sound recording, film, later also video, etc., is by 1953.

replant (v.)

also re-plant, 1570s, "plant (a tree, etc.) again or anew," from re- "back, again" + plant (v.). By 1650s as "to resow, plant (ground) again." Related: Replanted; replanting.

replenish (v.)

mid-14c., replenishen, "provide" with food or drink, also riches, beauty, etc., from Old French repleniss-, extended present-participle stem of replenir "to fill up," from re-, here perhaps an intensive prefix based on the notion of "fill repeatedly," thus "fill completely" (see re-), + -plenir, from Latin plenus "full" (from PIE root *pele- (1) "to fill").

Specifically as "to fill up again, restore to a former amount or condition" by 1610s. Related: Replenished; replenishing; replenishment.

replete (adj.)

late 14c., "filled (with something); completely full, filled to satisfaction," from Old French replet "filled up" (14c.) and directly from Latin repletus "filled, full," past participle of replere "to fill; fill again, re-fill," from re- "back, again" (here perhaps an intensive prefix based on the notion of "fill repeatedly," thus "fill completely;" see re-) + plere "to fill" (from PIE root *pele- (1) "to fill"). Related: Repleteness.

repletion (n.)

late 14c., replecioun, "eating or drinking to excess," also "state of being replete, fact or condition of being filled up," from Old French repletion, replection (early 14c.) and directly from Late Latin repletionem (nominative repletio) "a filling up, complement," noun of action from past-participle stem of replere "to fill" (see replete). Meaning

replevin (n.)

in law, "recovery of goods (by someone) taken from him, upon posting of security; temporary restoration of confiscated property pending a legal hearing," mid-15c., from Anglo-French replevin (mid-14c.) and Anglo-Latin (13c.) replevina, from Old French replevir (v.) "to pledge, protect, warrant," from re- "back, again" (see re-) + plevir, a word of uncertain origin; perhaps related to pledge (v.). The corresponding verb is replevy (1550s). Related: Repleviable.

reply (n.)

"an answer, a response," especially one in words or writing, 1550s, from reply (v.).

reply (v.)

late 14c., replien, "respond verbally, make an answer; make opposition, retaliate," from Old French replier "to reply, turn back," from Late Latin replicare "to reply, repeat," in classical Latin "fold back, fold over, bend back," from re- "back, again" (see re-) + plicare "to fold" (from PIE root *plek- "to plait").

The classical literal sense of "to fold back, turn or fold (something) back" is attested from early 15c. in English but is not now used. Modern French répliquer is formed directly from the Latin verb and used in the sense of "to replicate," also "to reply," while replier, reploier is for the literal senses "to fold, fold up, curl up." Related: Replied; replying.

replication (n.)

late 14c., replicacioun, "an answer, a verbal response;" also, specifically in law, "a rejoinder, legal reply" (third step in the pleadings in a common-law action), from Anglo-French replicacioun, Old French replicacion "reply, answer," from Latin replicationem (nominative replicatio) "a reply, repetition, a folding back," noun of action from past-participle stem of replicare "to repeat, reply.

This is etymologically "to fold back," from re- "back, again" (see re-) + plicare "to fold" (from PIE root *plek- "to plait"). The meaning "a copy, reproduction" is recorded by 1690s. The sense of "process by which genetic material copies itself" is from 1948.

replicable (adj.)

1520s, "that may be replied to" (a sense now obsolete), from stem of Latin replicare (see reply (v.)) + -able. Scientific meaning "that may be duplicated, that may be repeated experimentally" is from 1953, from replicate (v.). Related: Replicability.

replicate (adj.)

1832, in botany, of a leaf, "folded back upon itself; folded so as to form a groove," from Latin replicatus, past participle of replicare "to fold back, fold over" (see replicate (v.)).

replicate (v.)

early 15c. (Chauliac), replicaten, "repeat," from Late Latin replicatus, past participle of replicare "to reply, repeat," in classical Latin "fold back, fold over, bend back," from re- "back, again" (see re-) + plicare "to fold" (from PIE root *plek- "to plait").

Meaning "to copy, reproduce, make a replica of" is from 1882, a back-formation from replication. The scientific sense of "repeat (an experiment) and get a consistent result" is by 1923. Genetic sense is recorded from 1957. Related: Replicated; replicating; replicative.

replica (n.)

1824, "a work of art made in exact likeness of another and by the same artist," from Italian replica "copy, repetition, reply," from replicare "to duplicate," from Latin replicare "to repeat," in classical Latin "fold back, fold over, bend back," from re- "back, again" (see re-) + plicare "to fold" (from PIE root *plek- "to plait").

Properly, a duplicate work made by the same artist and thus considered as an original, not a copy. General sense of "any copy, reproduction, or facsimile" is by 1865.

repo (adj.)

by 1972 (in repo man), American English, short for repossess (v.) or repossession (n.).

repoint (v.)

1834 in masonry, "point (a wall) again," from re- "again" + point (v.) "seal or fill openings or joints." Related: Repointed; repointing.

repopulate (v.)

also re-populate, "to people anew, supply with a new population," 1590s, from re- "again" + populate (v.). Related: Repopulated; repopulating; repopulation.

report (n.)

late 14c., "an account brought by one person to another; rumor, gossip," from Old French report "pronouncement, judgment" (Modern French rapport), from reporter "to tell, relate" (see report (v.)).

By early 15c. as "informative statement by a reputable source, authoritative account." In law, "formal account of a case argued and determined in court," by 1610s. The meaning "formal statement of results of an investigation" is attested by 1660s; sense of "teacher's official statement of a pupil's work and behavior" is from 1873 (report card in the school sense is attested by 1913, American English). The meaning "resounding noise, sound of an explosion or of the discharge of a firearm" is from 1580s.

report (v.)

late 14c., "to make known, tell, relate," from Old French reporter "to tell, relate; bring back, carry away, hand over," from Latin reportare "carry back, bear back, bring back," figuratively "report," in Medieval Latin "write (an account) for information or record," from re- "back" (see re-) + portare "to carry" (from PIE root *per- (2) "to lead, pass over"). Early 15c. as "to submit" (to an authority, etc.). Meaning "to name someone as having offended somehow" is from 1885.

reporting (n.)

mid-15c., "a written document," verbal noun from report (v.). By 1861 as "newspaper work involving gathering information and writing accounts for publication."

reported (adj.)

"according to report," 1812, past-participle adjective from report (v.). Related: Reportedly.

reportable (adj.)

1842, "capable of being reported, coherent, detailed;" 1851, "worthy of being reported" (originally of court cases), from report (v.) + -able. Of accidents, etc., "proper to be reported to the authorities," by 1942. Related: Reportably.

reporter (n.)

c. 1400, reportour, "one who gives an account" of what was said or done by another (common 16c.-17c. in this general sense; often pejorative, "a tale-bearer"), agent noun from report (v.), or from Old French reporteur (Modern French rapporteur).

From 1610s as "one who takes down reports of law cases." In the journalistic sense, "member of the staff of a newspaper whose work is to collect information and submit it to the editors in the form they prescribe," from 1798 (from 1797 as the name of a newspaper). French reporter in this sense is a 19c. borrowing from English.

reportage (n.)

"the describing of events," 1877, from French; see report (v.) + -age.

reportorial (adj.)

"of or pertaining to reporting or reporters," 1852, American English, an irregular formation in imitation of editorial, etc., from Latinized form of reporter + -ial. Related: Reportorially.

repose (n.)

c. 1500, "act or state of rest from activity, temporary inaction, sleep," from Old French repos (11c.), a back-formation from reposer (see repose (v.1)). Meaning "state of quiet, freedom from disturbing influences" is by 1650s. As a noun, 17c. also used reposal, reposance.

repose (v.1)

"lie or be at rest," mid-15c., reposen, "rest (oneself)," from Old French reposer, earlier repauser (10c.), from Late Latin repausare "cause to rest," from re-, here perhaps an intensive prefix (see re-), + pausare "to stop" (see pause (v.)). Related: Reposed; reposing.

reposeful (adj.)

"full of repose," 1670s, from repose (n.) + -ful. Earlier it meant "responsible, trustworthy" (1620s), from repose (v.2). Related: Reposefulness.

repose (v.2)

"to put, place," mid-15c., reposen, "to put (something) back;" perhaps from re- "back, again" + pose (v.) or so formed in Middle English from Old French poser, on model of disposen "dispose" [Klein], or else from Latin repos-, infinitive stem of reponere "put back, set back, replace, restore; put away, lay out, stretch out," from re- + ponere "to put, place" (past participle positus; see position (n.)). Related: Reposed; reposing.

reposition (v.)

also re-position, 1859, "to put (something) in a new or adjusted position," from re- "again" + position (v.). Intransitive sense of "adjust or alter one's position" is by 1947. Related: Repositioned; repositioning.

reposition (n.)

early 15c. (Chauliac), reposicioun, in medicine, "a placing, putting, act of replacing, operation of restoring (something) to its original position," from Late Latin repositionem (nominative repositio) "a laying up, a storing up," noun of action from past-participle stem of Latin reponere (see repose (v.2)). Meaning "act of laying up in safety" is from 1610s; that of "reinstatement" (of a person, to an office, etc.)

is from 1640s.

repository (n.)

late 15c. (Caxton), "vessel, etc., for storage," from French repositoire or directly from Late Latin repositorium "store," in classical Latin, "a stand on which food is placed," from noun use of repositus, past participle of reponere "put away, store" (see repose (v.2)).

The figurative sense of "place where anything immaterial is thought of as stored" is recorded from 1640s; commercial sense of "place where things are kept for sale" is by 1759.

repossess (v.)

1550s, "to reoccupy, regain possession of;" see re- "back, again" + possess. Meaning "take back from a purchaser who defaults on payments" is recorded by 1933. Related: Repossessed; repossessing.

repossession (n.)

"renewed possession, act or state of possessing again," 1580s; see re- "back, again" + possession. By 1938 in reference to recovery of goods bought on plan by one who then defaulted on payments.

repost (v.)

also re-post, "to post again," by 1963, with reference to letters, from re- "again" + post (v.3). Related: Reposted; reposting; repostage (1855).

repot (v.)

also re-pot, "put (plants) in fresh pots," 1845, from re- "back, again, anew" + pot (v.). Related: Repotted; repotting.

repour (v.)

also re-pour, c. 1600, "pour back," from re- "back, again" + pour (v.). Related: Repoured; repouring.

repousse (adj.)

in reference to a type of decorative pattern, "formed in relief" by means of the hammer, "beaten from the under or reverse side," 1852, from French repoussé, past-participle adjective from repousser "to thrust back, beat back," from re- "back, again" (see re-) + pousser "to push" (see push (v.)). Related: Repoussoir.

reprehend (v.)

"to blame, censure, rebuke, reproach, charge with a fault," mid-14c., reprehenden, from Latin reprehendere "to blame, censure, rebuke; seize, restrain," literally "pull back, hold back," from re- "back" (see re-) + prehendere "to grasp, seize" (from prae- "before," see pre-, + -hendere, from PIE root *ghend- "to seize, take").

reprehension (n.)

"blame, censure, reproof; a rebuke," late 14c., reprehensioun, from Old French reprehension (12c.) and directly from Latin reprehensionem (nominative reprehensio) "blame, a censure, reprimand," literally "a taking again," noun of action from past participle stem of reprehendere "to blame, censure, rebuke; seize, restrain" (see reprehend).

reprehensible (adj.)

"blameworthy, deserving to be censured," late 14c., from Old French reprehensible (14c.) and directly from Late Latin reprehensibilis "blamable," from reprehens-, past-participle stem of Latin reprehendere "to blame, censure, rebuke; seize, restrain" (see reprehend). Reprehendable in the same sense is from mid-14c. Reprehendatory (1853) was used in the sense of "conveying reproof." Related: Reprehensibly; reprehensibleness; reprehensibility.

reprehensive (adj.)

"containing reproof; of the nature of reproof," 1580s, from Latin stem of reprehend + -ive; perhaps formed on the model of comprehensive. OED says rival adjective reprehensory (1580s) is "Now rare."

re-present (v.)

"to offer again, bring before again," 1560s, from re- "back, again" + present (v.). With hyphenated spelling and full pronunciation of the prefix to distinguish it from represent. Related: Re-presented; re-presenting; re-presentation.

represent (v.)

late 14c., representen, "show, display, express; bring to mind by description," also "to symbolize, serve as a sign or symbol of (something else, something abstract); serve as the type or embodiment of;" also be a representative of" (the authority of another).

This is from Old French representer "present, show, portray" (12c.) and directly from Latin repraesentare "make present, set in view, show, exhibit, display," from re-, here perhaps an intensive prefix (see re-), + praesentare "to present," literally "to place before." Latin praesentare is from praesens, "present, at hand, in sight; immediate; prompt, instant; contemporary," itself from the present participle of the verb præesse "be before (someone or something), be at hand," from prae- "before" (see pre-) + esse "to be" (from PIE root *es- "to be").

Specifically in legal actions, "speak and act with authority on behalf of another by deputed right," by 1500. Also from c. 1500 as "describe as having a specified character or quality." The legislative sense "be accredited deputy for (a body of people) in a legislative assembly" is attested from 1650s.

The meaning "serve as a specimen or example of" is by 1858, at first usually passive (the Dead Rabbits were represented by, etc.). Related: Represented; representing.

representative (adj.)

1580s, "serving to portray or symbolize," from French representatif (early 14c.) or directly from Medieval Latin repraesentativus, from stem of Latin repraesentare "show, exhibit, display" (see represent).

Meaning "standing for others, acting as a substitute or agent for another" is from 1620s. Specifically in the political sense of "holding the place of, and acting for, a larger body of people in the government or legislature" it is recorded from 1620s; the meaning "pertaining to or founded on representation of the people, having citizens represented by chosen persons" is from 1640s. Related: Representatively (mid-15c.).

representative (n.)

1630s, "member of a legislative body (such as the British House of Commons or the U.S. House of Representatives) who represents a number of others," from representative (adj.). By 1640s in the sense of "example, type, sample, specimen."

representation (n.)

c. 1400, representacioun, "image, likeness symbolic memorial," from Old French representacion (14c.) and directly from Latin repraesentationem (nominative repraesentatio), "a bringing before one, a showing or exhibiting," noun of action from past-participle stem of repraesentare "show, exhibit, display" (see represent (v.)).

The sense of "act of presenting to the mind or imagination" is attested by 1640s. The meaning "statement made in regard to some matter" is from 1670s. Legislative sense of "fact of representing or being represented" is by 1769, thus "share or participation in legislation, etc., by means of regularly chosen or appointed delegates; the system by which communities and societies have a voice in their own affairs and the making of their laws."

re-presentation (n.)

"a presenting again, a renewed presentation," 1805, from re- "back, again" + presentation or else a noun formed to go with re-present. With hyphenated spelling and full pronunciation of the prefix to distinguish it from representation.

representational (adj.)

"pertaining to or of the nature of representation," 1855, originally in philosophy, from representation + -al (1). Specifically of visual arts by 1923. Related: Representationally.

repress (v.)

late 14c., "to check, restrain (sin, error); to overcome, put down, subdue (riot, rebellion);" from Latin repressus, past participle of reprimere "hold back, curb," figuratively "check, confine, restrain, refrain," from re- "back" (see re-) + premere "to press, hold fast, cover, crowd, compress" (from PIE root *per- (4) "to strike").

Used of feelings or desires from late 14c.; in the purely psychological sense "keep out of the conscious mind, keep in the subconscious" it represents German verdrängen (Freud, 1893), that sense of the word first attested in English in 1904 (implied in repressed). Related: Repressed; repressing.

repressive (adj.)

early 15c., in medicine, "serving to check or suppress, tending to subdue," from Old French repressif and directly from Medieval Latin repressivus, from Latin repress-, past-participle stem of reprimere "hold back, curb," figuratively "check, confine, restrain, refrain" (see repress). Related: Repressively.

repression (n.)

late 14c., repressioun, "restraint, act of subduing," noun of action from repress (v.), or else from Medieval Latin repressionem (nominative repressio), noun of action from past-participle stem of Latin reprimere. Psychological sense is from 1908; biochemical sense is from 1957. French répression (15c.) is not early enough.

repressed (adj.)

1660s, "restrained, checked," past-participle adjective from repress (v.). Psychological sense of "kept out of the conscious mind, kept in the subconscious" is attested by 1904.

repressible (adj.)

"capable of being restrained," 1801, of emotions and indignation or of medical conditions, but if the former almost always qualified by hardly, no longer, barely, etc.; see repress (v.) + -ible. Also compare irrepressible.

reprieve (v.)

1570s, reprive, "take back to prison," alteration (perhaps by influence of reprove) of Middle English repryen "to remand, detain" (late 15c.), probably from French repris, past participle of reprendre "take back" (see reprise). Meaning "to suspend an impending execution" is recorded from 1590s; this sense evolved probably because being sent back to prison was the alternative to execution. Spelling with -ie- is from 1640s, perhaps by analogy of achieve, etc. Related: Reprieved; reprieving.

reprieve (n.)

1590s, "suspension of the execution of a criminal's sentence," from reprieve (v.). By 1630s in a general sense of "respite or temporary escape."

reprimand (v.)

"reprove severely, chide for a fault," 1680s, from reprimand (n.) or else from French réprimander (17c.), from réprimande. Related: Reprimanded; reprimanding.

reprimand (n.)

"severe reproof (especially one given by a magistrate or authority) for a fault," 1630s, from French réprimande (16c.), earlier reprimende "reproof," from Latin reprimenda "that is to be repressed" (as in reprimenda culpa "fault to be checked," reprimenda res "thing that ought to be repressed").

The word is thus a noun use of the fem. singular of reprimendus, gerundive of reprimere "hold back, curb," figuratively "check, confine, restrain, refrain," from re- "back" (see re-) + premere "to press, hold fast, cover, crowd, compress" (from PIE root *per- (4) "to strike"). The spelling has been influenced in French by mander "to summon."

reprint (n.)

also re-print, 1610s, "a second or new edition, in print, unchanged, of a previously printed work," from reprint (v.). Also, in typography, "copy from some other publication set up for reuse" (1824).

reprint (v.)

also re-print, 1550s, "print again, print a second or new edition of," from re- "back, again" + print (v.). Related: Reprinted; reprinting.

reprisal (n.)

early 15c., reprisail, "the seizing of property or citizens of another nation in equivalent retaliation for loss inflicted on one's own," from Anglo-French reprisaille (mid-14c.), Old French reprisaille (Modern French représaille), from early Italian ripresaglia, from ripreso, past participle of riprendere "to take back," from Latin reprendere, earlier reprehendere "to seize, restrain," literally "pull back, hold back" (see reprehend).

First in letters of mark and reprisal, the official warrant authorizing it. The general sense of "act of retaliation" is from 1710.

reprise (n.)

late 14c., "yearly deduction from charges upon a manor or estate," from Old French reprise "act of taking back" (13c.), fem. of repris, past participle of reprendre "take back," from Latin reprendere "pull back, hold back" (see reprehend). The meaning "resumption of an action" is attested from 1680s. The musical sense of "a repeated passage, act of repeating a passage" is by 1879.

reprise (v.)

early 15c., reprisen, "begin (an activity) again," from Old French repris, past participle of reprendre, from Latin reprehendere "to blame, censure, rebuke; seize, restrain," literally "pull back, hold back" (see reprehend). Obsolete in this sense; the modern meaning "repeat a (theatrical, musical, etc.) performance" is by 1965, perhaps a new formation from the verb. Related: Reprised; reprising.

repro

1946 as a shortening of reproduction (n.).

reproachful (adj.)

1540s, "expressing reproach," also "worthy of reproach, shameful," from reproach (n.) + -ful. Related: Reproachfully; reproachfulness.

reproach (n.)

mid-14c., reproche, "a rebuke, blame, censure" directed against a person; also "object of scorn or contempt;" c. 1400, as "disgrace, state of disgrace," from Anglo-French repruce, Old French reproche "blame, shame, disgrace" (12c.), from reprochier "to blame, bring up against."

OED cites Diez for the explanation that this is from Vulgar Latin *repropiare, from Latin re- "opposite of" + prope "near" (see propinquity), with suggestions of "bring near to" as in modern get in (someone's) face. But it points out other etymologists of French would have it from *reprobicare, from Latin reprobus/reprobare "disapprove, reject, condemn" (see reprobate (adj.)).

reproach (v.)

mid-14c., reprochen, "charge with a fault, censure severely," from Anglo-French repruchier, Old French reprochier "upbraid, blame, accuse, speak ill of," from reproche "blame, shame, disgrace" (see reproach (n.)). The sense of "rebuke, revile, abuse" is from 1510s. Related: Reproached; reproaching; reproachable.

reprobate (adj.)

early 15c., "rejected as worthless," from Late Latin reprobatus, past participle of reprobare "disapprove, reject, condemn," from Latin re- "back, again," here perhaps indicating "opposite of, reversal of previous condition" (see re-) + probare "prove to be worthy" (see probate (n.)). The meaning "abandoned in character, morally depraved, unprincipled" is by 1650s.

reprobation (n.)

c. 1400, reprobacioun, "rejection," from Church Latin reprobationem (nominative reprobatio) "rejection, reprobation," noun of action from past-participle stem of reprobare "disapprove, reject, condemn" (see reprobate (adj.)).

In theology, "the state of being consigned to eternal punishment" (1530s). From 1580s as "condemnation as worthless or spurious;" the broad sense of "condemnation, censure, act of vehemently disapproving" is from 1727. Other nouns that have been used in English include reprobacy (1590s), reprobance (c. 1600), reprobature (1680s, legal).

reprobate (v.)

early 15c., reprobaten, "condemn, disapprove vehemently," from Late Latin reprobatus, past participle of reprobare "disapprove, reject, condemn" (see reprobate (adj.)). Later coming to mean "reject, put away, set aside" (by c. 1600). Related: Reprobated; reprobating.

reprobate (n.)

1540s, "one rejected by God, person given over to sin," from reprobate (adj.). Sense of "abandoned or unprincipled person" is from 1590s.

reprocess (v.)

also re-process, "subject again to a process," 1939, originally of manufactures, from re- "back, again" + process (v.). Related: Reprocessed; reprocessing.

reproduceable (adj.)

"susceptible or capable of reproduction," 1825, from reproduce + -able. Alternative form reproductible, which is attested from 1834.

reproduce (v.)

1610s, transitive, "to bring into existence again," from re- "again" + produce (v.), probably on model of French reproduire (16c.). Sense of "make a copy or representation of" is recorded by 1850. The intransitive sense of "generate offspring, procreate" is by 1894. Related: Reproduced; reproducing.

reproductible (adj.)

"susceptible or capable of reproduction," 1834; see reproduction + -able. Also compare reproduceable. Related: Reproductibility.

reproduction (n.)

1650s, "act of forming again," noun of action from reproduce. Of living organisms, "process by which new individuals are generated and species perpetuated," by 1782. The meaning "process of reproducing sounds" is by 1908. The meaning "a copy, a counterpart" is from 1807; in 20c. especially "something made in the style of an earlier period."

reproductive (adj.)

"of the nature of, employed in, or pertaining to reproduction," 1753; see reproduce + -ive. Related: Reproductively; reproductiveness. Reproductive organ is by 1816; reproductive system "organs involved in producing offspring" by 1822. In U.S., reproductive rights is attested from 1970.

reprogram (v.)

also re-program; reprogramme; re-programme, "program differently, supply with a new program," 1945, from re- "back, again" + program (v.). Related: Reprogrammed; reprogramming.

reproof (n.)

mid-14c., "a shame, a disgrace" (a sense now obsolete), also "a censure to one's face, a rebuke addressed to a person," from Old French reprove "reproach, rejection," verbal noun from reprover "to blame, accuse" (see reprove).

reprove (v.)

c. 1300, repreven, repruve, reproeven, "accuse, charge as a fault," from Old French reprover "accuse, blame" (12c.), from Late Latin reprobare "disapprove, reject, condemn," from Latin re- "opposite of, reversal of previous condition" (see re-) + probare "prove to be worthy" (see probate (n.)).

From mid-14c. as "deliver a rebuke, admonish;" late 14c. as "disapprove, condemn, find fault with." Related: Reproved; reproving; reprovable.

reptile (n.)

late 14c., "creeping or crawling animal; one that goes on its belly on the ground on small, short legs," from Old French reptile (early 14c.) and directly from Late Latin reptile, noun use of neuter of reptilis (adj.) "creping, crawling," from rept-, past-participle stem of repere "to crawl, creep." This is reconstructed to be from PIE root *rep- "to creep, crawl" (source also of Lithuanian rėplioti "to creep").

Used of persons of abject, groveling, or mean character from 1749. As an adjective, c. 1600, "creeping or crawling," hence, of persons, "low, mean" (1650s). Also sometimes used 18c. of creeping plants.

The precise scientific sense of the noun began to develop mid-18c., but the word also was used at first of animals now known as amphibians, including toads, frogs, salamanders. The separation of Reptilia (1835 as a distinct class) and Amphibia took place early 19c.; popular use lagged, and reptile still was used late 18c. with sense "An animal that creeps upon many feet" [Johnson, who calls the scorpion a reptile], sometimes excluding serpents. The Old English word for "reptile" was slincend, related to slink.

Reptilia (n.)

in biology, the class of cold-blooded, scaled vertebrates including the reptiles proper, mid-17c., from Latin plural of reptile (see reptile; also see -a (2)).

reptilian (adj.)

"of, resembling, or characteristic of reptiles," 1835, from reptile + -ian. Transferred meaning "malignant, cold, underhanded" is by 1859.

republication (n.)

1700, "a fresh promulgation" of a law, etc., from re- + publication, French republication (by 17c.), or else formed to go with republish (v.). By 1789 as "act of republishing, a new publication of something published before;" specifically as "a fresh publication of a literary work" by 1796, originally often especially a reprint in one country of a work published in another. A verb republicate was used 17c. as "make popular" (1660s).

republic (n.)

"state in which supreme or executive power rests in the people via representatives chosen by citizens entitled to vote," c. 1600, from French république (15c.), from Latin respublica (ablative republica) "the common weal, a commonwealth, state, republic," literally res publica "public interest, the state," from res "affair, matter, thing" (see re) + publica, fem. of publicus "public" (see public (adj.)).

Applied to particular states so constituted by 1630s. The notion of "community in which there is a certain equality of members" is behind such expressions as republic of letters "collective body of those engaged in literary pursuits," attested from 1702.

republican (n.)

"one who favors a republican form of government or republican principles" (or, as Johnson puts it, "One who thinks a commonwealth without monarchy the best government"), 1690s; see republican (adj.).

With capital R-, in reference to a member of a specific U.S. political party (the Anti-Federalists) from 1782, though this was not the ancestor of the modern U.S. Republican Party, which dates from 1854. In between, National Republicans was a name of the party that opposed Jackson and rallied behind John Quincy Adams in late 1820s.

republican (adj.)

1712, "belonging to a republic, of the nature of a republic, consonant to the principles of a republic," from republic + -an. With capital R-, "of, pertaining to, or favoring one of the various American parties that have been called Republican," by 1806 (the modern GOP dates from 1854). The French republican calendar was in use from Nov. 26, 1793 to Dec. 31, 1805. Earlier adjectives included republical (1650s), republicarian (1680s).

republicanism (n.)

1680s, "republican principles; a republican form of government," from republican (adj.) + -ism. With capital R-, in reference to the modern U.S. Republican Party by 1856.

Republicrat (n.)

in U.S. political jargon, usually meaning "moderate; independent," 1881, from elements of the names of the two dominant parties; see republican (n.) and democrat (n.).

republish (v.)

"publish (a book, etc.) anew," 1620s, from re- "again" + publish (v.). Related: Republished; republishing.

repudiate (v.)

1540s, "to cast off by divorce," also general, "reject, refuse to accept" (a person or thing), from Latin repudiatus, past participle of repudiare "to cast off, put away, divorce, reject, scorn, disdain," from repudium "divorce, rejection, a putting away, dissolution of marriage," from re- "back, away" (see re-) + pudium.

This is probably is related to pudere "cause shame to," a verb of unknown etymology. Barnhart, however, suggests it is related to pes/ped- "foot," in which case the original notion may be of kicking something away.

In reference to persons, "to disown," 1690s. Of opinions, conduct, etc., "to refuse to acknowledge, reject with condemnation," attested from 1824. Of debts by 1837. Earliest in English as an adjective meaning "divorced, rejected, condemned" (mid-15c.), from Latin repudiatus. Related: Repudiated; repudiating; repudiable.

repudiation (n.)

1540s, "divorce" (of a woman by a man), from Latin repudiationem (nominative repudiatio) "a rejection, refusal," noun of action from past-participle stem of repudiare (see repudiate). Meaning "action of disowning" is by 1850; specifically as "disavowal of an obligation, as of a debt lawfully contracted," by 1843, often originally of U.S. states during the financial crisis of 1837-43.

repudiatory (adj.)

"pertaining to or of the nature of repudiation," 1820; see repudiate + -ory.