Etymology dictionary
repugnant (adj.) — resonance (n.)
repugnant (adj.)
early 15c., repugnaunt, "hostile, opposed; contrary, inconsistent, contradictory," from Old French repugnant "contradictory, opposing" or directly from Latin repugnantem (nominative repugnans), present participle of repugnare "to resist, fight back, oppose; disagree, be incompatible," from re- "back, against, in opposition" (see re-) + pugnare "to fight" (from PIE root *peuk- "to prick").
The meaning "distasteful, objectionable" is from 1777; that of "offensive, loathsome, exciting aversion" is by 1879.
repugn (v.)
late 14c., repugnen, "rebel, disobey, oppose (God); resist or fight against, express disagreement," from Old French repugner, from Latin repugnare "fight against, resist," from re- "back, against" (see re-) + pugnare "to fight" (from PIE root *peuk- "to prick"). Related: Repugned; repugning.
repugnance (n.)
early 15c., repugnaunce, "logical contradiction, inconsistency; incompatibility; resistance, opposition"(senses now obsolete), from Old French repugnance "opposition, resistance" (13c.) or directly from Latin repugnantia "incompatibility," from stem of repugnare "resist, disagree, be incompatible," from re- "back" (see re-) + pugnare "to fight" (from PIE root *peuk- "to prick"). The meaning "mental opposition or antagonism, aversion, strong dislike" is from 1640s. Related: Repugnancy.
repulse (n.)
late 15c., "defeat," in part from the English verb, in part from Old French repulse, variant of repousse, and in part directly from Latin repulsa "refusal, denial" (as in repulsa petitio "a repulse in soliciting for an office"), noun use of fem. of repulsus, past participle of repellere "to drive back" (see repel).
repulsion (n.)
early 15c., repulsioun, "driving away, repelling, repudiation," especially "divorce" (writ of repulsion), from Old French repulsion and directly from Late Latin repulsionem (nominative repulsio) "a repelling," noun of action from past-participle stem of repellere "to drive back" (see repel).
Meaning "action of forcing or driving back" is attested from 1540s. Sense of "strong dislike, repellent feeling" is from 1751.
repulsive (adj.)
early 15c. (Chauliac), repulsif, "able to repel, having the power to dissipate collected humors," from Old French repulsif (14c.) and directly from Medieval Latin repulsivus, from repuls-, past-participle stem of repellere "to drive back" (see repel).
From 1590s as "tending to repel by coldness of manner, etc." The sense of "causing disgust, grossly or coarsely offensive to taste or feeling" is recorded by 1816. Related: Repulsively; repulsiveness.
repulse (v.)
early 15c., repulsen, "hold (something) back; drive (someone) away," from Latin repulsus, past participle of repellere "drive back, reject" (see repel). Also compare Medieval Latin repulsare. Related: Repulsed; repulsing.
repurchase (v.)
also re-purchase, 1590s, "purchase again, buy back, regain by purchase," from re- "back, again" + purchase (v.). As a noun, "act of buying again," 1610s, not common before late 19c. Related: Repurchased; repurchasing.
repurpose (v.)
"put to a new purpose," by 1889, from re- "back, again," here perhaps "anew," + purpose (v.). Modern popularity dates from 1980s. Related: Repurposed; repurposing.
repute (n.)
"reputation, character, established opinion" (of a specified kind), 1550s, from repute (v.). Especially "good character, the honor or credit derived from good opinion" (1610s).
repute (v.)
late 14c., reputen, "believe (that something is so); c. 1400, "to attribute;" early 15c., "deem, consider, regard," from Old French reputer (late 13c.) and directly from Latin reputare "to count over, reckon; think over," from re-, here perhaps "repeatedly" (see re-), + putare "to judge, suppose, believe, suspect," originally "to clean, trim, prune" (from PIE root *pau- (2) "to cut, strike, stamp"). Related: Reputed; reputing.
reputable (adj.)
1610s, "capable of being taken into account" (a sense now obsolete), from repute (n.) + -able. Meaning "consistent with good reputation, not mean or disgraceful" is by 1670s; of persons, "held in esteem, having a good reputation" by 1690s. Related: Reputably.
reputed (adj.)
1540s, "held in repute," past-participle adjective from repute (v.). Meaning "supposed to be" is from 1570s. "[N]ot often found in good sources" [OED]. Related: Reputedly.
reputation (n.)
mid-14c., reputacioun, "credit, good reputation, esteem;" late 14c. in the general sense of "opinion, estimation," good or bad; from Old French reputation, reputacion, and directly from Latin reputationem (nominative reputatio) "a reckoning, consideration, a thinking over," noun of action from past-participle stem of reputare "reflect upon, reckon, count over."
This is from re-, here perhaps "repeatedly" (see re-), + putare "to judge, suppose, believe, suspect," originally "to clean, trim, prune" (from PIE root *pau- (2) "to cut, strike, stamp").
request (v.)
1530s, "ask (someone) to (do something), express desire for something to be done;" 1560s, "express a wish or desire, ask to be allowed to do something," from request (n.) or from French requester, "ask again, request, reclaim," from requeste. The older verb was Middle English requeren (14c.), from Old French requerre and directly from Latin requiare. Related: Requested; requesting.
request (n.)
mid-14c., requeste, "act of asking for a favor, service, etc.; expression of desire for something to be granted or done," from Old French requeste (Modern French requête) "a request," from Vulgar Latin *requaesita, from Latin requisita (res) "(a thing) asked for," from fem. of requisitus "requested, demanded," past participle of requirere "seek to know, ask, ask for" (see require).
From late 14c. as "that which one asks for." By 1928 as "a letter, telephone call, etc., asking for a particular song to be played on a radio program, often accompanied by a personal message or dedication."
requiem (n.)
"mass for repose of the soul of the dead," c. 1300, from Latin requiem, accusative singular of requiescere "rest (after labor), be idle, repose," from re-, here perhaps an intensive prefix (see re-), + quiescere "to repose, rest, sleep," from quies "quiet" (from suffixed form of PIE root *kweie- "to rest, be quiet"). It is the first word of the Mass for the Dead in the Latin liturgy: Requiem æternam dona eis, Domine .... ["Rest eternal grant them, O Lord ...."]. By 1610s as "any dirge or solemn chant for repose of the dead."
requiescat (n.)
a wish or prayer for the repose of the dead, from the Latin phrase requiescat in pace (often abbreviated R.I.P.), literally "may he (or she) begin to rest in peace," with third person singular inceptive (or subjunctive) of requiescere "rest (after labor), be idle, repose," especially of the dead (see requiem). The phrase is "frequent in sepulchral inscriptions" [Century Dictionary].
require (v.)
late 14c., requeren, "to ask (someone) a question, inquire," a sense now obsolete, from Old French requerre, requerir "seek, procure; beg, ask, petition; demand," from Vulgar Latin *requaerere, from Latin requirere "seek to know, ask, ask for (something needed)," from re-, here perhaps meaning "repeatedly" (see re-), + quaerere "ask, seek" (see query (v.)). In some later English senses probably directly from Latin.
Still in 16c.-17c. commonly "to ask or request (to have or do something)," but this original sense of the word has been taken over by request (v.).
Also from late 14c. as "to stand in need of, want; to need for some end or purpose." The sense of "demand that (someone) do (something)" is from 1751, via the notion of "to ask for imperatively, or as a right" (late 14c.). The meaning "demand as necessary or essential on general principles" is from early 15c. Related: Required; requiring.
required (adj.)
"that must be done as a condition," c. 1600, past-participle adjective from require (v.). Required reading, that which must be read to attain an understanding of a subject, is attested from 1881.
requirement (n.)
1520s, "request, requisition" (a sense now obsolete), from require + -ment. Meaning "things required, a need, something necessary" is from 1660s. Meaning "that which must be accomplished, necessary condition" is by 1841. Related: Requirements. Fowler points out that requirement "means properly a need" and requisite "a needed thing," though the distinction is a fine one.
requisition (v.)
"demand or require (something) to be furnished" for military or public purposes, 1837, from requisition (n.). Related: Requisitioned; requisitioning.
requisite (adj.)
"needed, necessary, required by circumstances or the nature of things, so needful that it cannot be dispensed with," mid-15c., from Latin requisitus, past participle of requirere "seek to know, ask, ask for" (see require). As a noun, "that which is necessary, something indispensable," from c. 1600. Related: Requisiteness.
requisition (n.)
c. 1400, requisicioun, "a request, an act of requesting or demanding," from Old French requisicion (12c.) and directly from Medieval Latin requisitionem (nominative requisitio) "examination, a searching," noun of action from past-participle stem of Latin requirere (past participle requisitus) "seek to know, ask, ask for" (see require).
The meaning "action of formally calling upon someone to perform some action, etc." is by 1550s, originally legal. The sense of "action of requiring a certain amount of something to be furnished" is by 1776.
requisitioner (n.)
"one who makes a requisition," 1877, agent noun from requisition (v.). Earlier was requisitionist (1819).
requital (n.)
"return for some service, kindness, etc.; act of requiting" for good or ill, 1570s, from requite + -al (2).
requite (v.)
c. 1400, requiten, "make return for, repay" (for good or ill), from Old French requiter or formed in English from re- "back" + Middle English quite "clear, pay up," an early variant of quit (v.) preserved in this word; in early use requite was often requit. Related: Requited; requiting.
reread (v.)
also re-read, "to read again or anew," 1782, from re- "again" + read (v.). Related: Rereading. As a noun, "an instance of rereading," by 1973.
rerecord (v.)
also re-record, "record again or anew," 1930, from re- "again" + record (v.). A word from the talkies. Related: Rerecorded; rerecording.
reredos (n.)
"decorated screen behind an altar; brick or stone back of a fireplace," late 14c., rere-dose, from Anglo-French rere-, an archaic combining form of rear (n.), + dos "back" (see dossier). But Klein's sources suggest it is aphetic of Anglo-French areredos, from Old French arere "at the back" (Modern French arrière). For rere-, compare rere-main "a backhand stroke" (c. 1300), rere-supper "a late supper after the ordinary meal."
rerelease (v.)
also re-release, "to release (a motion picture, song, record, etc.) again or anew," by 1948, from re- "again" + release (v.). Related: Rereleased; rereleasing. Also as a noun, "a new release."
reroute (v.)
also re-route, "set upon a new route, redirect," 1929, of mails, from re- "back, again" + route (v.). Related: Rerouted; rerouting.
rerun (v.)
also re-run, 1804, "to run (over) again," in reference to races, etc., from re- "back, again" + run (v.). Specifically as "to show (a motion picture, etc.) again" by 1962. The noun, in reference to film, is recorded from 1934; of television programs from 1955. Related: Reran; rerunning.
resale (n.)
also re-sale, "act of selling again; a second sale, a sale of what was sold before to the possessor," 1620s, from re- "back, again" + sale (n.).
reschedule (v.)
also re-schedule, "replan in accordance with a different timetable," 1912, from re- "back, again" + schedule (v.). Related: Rescheduled; rescheduling.
rescind (v.)
"abrogate, annul, or revoke by authority, repeal," 1630s, from French rescinder "cancel; cut off" (15c.), and directly from Latin rescindere "annul, cancel, abolish, remove by cutting off," from re- "back" (see re-) + scindere "to cut, rend, tear asunder, split; split up, part, divide, separate" (from PIE *skind-, from root *skei- "to cut, split"). Related: Rescinded; rescinding.
rescission (n.)
1610s, "action of cutting off" (a sense now obsolete); 1650s, "action of annulling," from Late Latin rescissionem (nominative rescisio) "annulment, a making void," noun of action from past-participle stem of rescindere "to cut off; abolish" (see rescind).
rescribe (v.)
"to write back, write in reply," mid-15c., rescriben, from Latin rescribere, from re- "back" (see re-) + scribere "to write" (from PIE root *skribh- "to cut"). Now archaic or obsolete. Related: Rescribed; rescribing; rescript; rescription.
rescue (v.)
c. 1300, rescouen, "deliver (someone) from an enemy's attack or restraint; deliver or save (someone) from evil or harm," from Anglo-French rescu-, Old French rescou-, stem of Old French rescorre, rescoure, rescure, etc., "protect, keep safe; free, deliver" (Modern French recourre), from re-, here perhaps an intensive prefix (see re-), + escourre "to cast off, discharge," from Latin excutere "to shake off, drive away," from ex "out" (see ex-) + -cutere, combining form of quatere "to shake" (see quash).
Also sometimes in 17c.-18c. "to liberate by unlawful force from legal custody." Related: Rescued; rescuing; rescuable. Rescuer is from 1530s; Ogden Nash has rescuee (1950) for the sake of a rhyme. The legal language, based on Anglo-French, tended toward rescusser and rescussee.
rescue (n.)
late 14c., rescoue, "act of saving from danger, confinement, enemies, etc., from rescue (v.). The earlier noun or form of the noun in Middle English was rescous (early 14c.), from Old French rescous, verbal noun to rescourre, rescorre.
As an adjective by 1888 (William Booth) "aiming to raise fallen or degraded persons," originally and especially prostitutes but also the intemperate; hence rescue mission, for those in need of spiritual or moral rehabilitation. A rescue opera (by 1935, probably translating a continental phrase) was one in which the hero or heroine is rescued after great tribulations.
research (n.)
1570s, "act of searching closely" for a specific person or thing, from French recerche (1530s, Modern French recherche), back-formation from Old French recercher "seek out, search closely" (see research (v.)).
The meaning "diligent scientific inquiry and investigation directed to the discovery of some fact" is attested by 1630s. The general sense of "investigations into things, the habit of making close investigations" is by 1690s. The phrase research and development for "work on a large scale toward innovation" is recorded from 1923.
researcher (n.)
"investigator, inquirer, one who makes researches," 1610s, agent noun from research (v.).
research (v.)
1590s, "investigate or study (a matter) closely, search or examine with continued care," from French recercher, from Old French recercher "seek out, search closely," from re-, here perhaps an intensive prefix (see re-), + cercher "to seek for," from Latin circare "go about, wander, traverse," in Late Latin "to wander hither and thither," from circus "circle" (see circus).
The intransitive meaning "make researches" is by 1781. Sometimes 17c. also "to seek (a woman) in love or marriage." Related: Researched; researching.
re-search (v.)
"to search again, examine repeatedly or anew," 1768, from re- "back, again" + search (v.). With hyphenated spelling and full pronunciation of the prefix to distinguish it from research. As a noun, "a repeated search," by 1746. Related: Re-searched; re-searching.
reseat (v.)
also re-seat, "to seat again," in any sense, 1630s, from re- "again" + seat (v.). Related: Reseated; reseating.
resection (n.)
1610s, "action of cutting off or away," from Latin resectionem (nominative resectio), noun of action from past-participle stem of resecare "cut off, cut loose" (see resect). The surgical sense of "excision of some part," of a bone, etc., (1775) seems to be the sole surviving one.
resect (v.)
"cut off or away, pare off," 1650s, from Latin resectus, past participle of resecare "to cut off, cut loose, curtail," from re-, here perhaps an intensive prefix (see re-), + secare "to cut" (from PIE root *sek- "to cut"). The surgical sense of "excising of some part," of a bone, etc., (1846) seems to be the sole surviving one. Related: Resected; resecting.
resell (v.)
also re-sell, "to sell again, sell a second time," 1570s; see re- "back, again" + sell (v.). Related: Resold, reselling.
resemble (v.)
"be like, have likeness or similarity to," mid-14c., from Old French resembler "be like" (12c., Modern French ressemble), from re-, here perhaps an intensive prefix, + sembler "to appear, to seem, be like," from Latin simulare "to make like, imitate, copy, represent," from stem of similis "like, resembling, of the same kind" (see similar).
Also formerly "to compare or liken (one to another); make an image of" (late 14c.). Related: Resembled; resembling.
resemblance (n.)
"state or property of being like, likeness or similarity in appearance or other respect," late 14c., from Anglo-French resemblance (c. 1300), from Old French resembler (see resemble) + -ance. Also from late 14c. as "likeness or image of a person or thing."
resend (v.)
also re-send, "to send back or again," 1550s, from re- "back, again" + send (v.). Related: Resent; resending.
resentment (n.)
"deep sense of injury, the excitement of passion which proceeds from a sense of wrong offered to one's self or one's kindred or friends," especially when directed at the author of the affront, 1610s, from French ressentiment (16c.), verbal noun from ressentir (see resent). Slightly earlier in English in the French form resentiment (1590s); also compare ressentiment.
resentful (adj.)
"full of or inspired by resentment; apt or inclined to resent," 1650s, from resent + -ful. Related: Resentfully; resentfulness.
resent (v.)
c. 1600, "feel pain or distress" (a sense now obsolete); 1620s, "take (something) ill, consider as an injury or affront; be in some degree angry or provoked at," from French ressentir "feel pain, regret," from Old French resentir "feel again, feel in turn" (13c.), from re-, here perhaps an intensive prefix (see re-), + sentir "to feel," from Latin sentire "to feel, think" (see sense (n.)).
It sometimes could have a positive sense in English, "appreciate, be grateful for" (1640s), but this is obsolete. Related: Resented; resenting.
reserve (v.)
mid-14c., "keep back or in store for future use;" late 14c., "keep as one's own," from Old French reserver "set aside, withhold" (12c.) and directly from Latin reservare "keep back, save up; retain, preserve," from re- "back" (see re-) + servare "to keep, save, preserve, protect" (from PIE root *ser- (1) "to protect"). Meaning "to book" is from 1935. Related: Reserved; reserving.
reserve (n.)
1610s, "something stored up," from reserve (v.) or from French réserve, a back-formation from reserver "set aside, withhold," from Latin reservare "keep back, save up; retain, preserve," from re- "back" (see re-) + servare "to keep, save, preserve, protect" (from PIE root *ser- (1) "to protect").
Meaning "self-imposed restraint on freedom of words or actions; habit of keeping back the feelings" is from 1650s. The meaning "district or place set apart for some particular use" is by 1805. The sense of "amount of capital kept on hand to meet probable expenses or demand" is by 1866. That of "amount of natural resources known to exist in a particular region" is by 1912. As an adjective, "kept in reserve," by 1719.
The military sense of "body of troops withheld from action to serve as reinforcements, etc." is from 1640s; that of "national emergency defense or auxiliary military force" (reserves) is by 1866.
re-serve (v.)
"serve again, serve what has been served previously," 1866, from re- "back, again" + serve (v.). Spelled with a hyphen to distinguish it from reserve. Related: Re-served; re-serving.
reservation (n.)
late 14c., "act of reserving or keeping back," from Old French reservation (14c.) and directly from Late Latin reservationem (nominative reservatio), noun of action from past-participle stem of Latin reservare "keep back, save up; retain, preserve," from re- "back" (see re-) + servare "to keep, save, preserve, protect" (from PIE root *ser- (1) "to protect").
The mental sense of "qualification of a statement, etc., not expressed openly" is from c. 1600. The U.S. sense of "tract of public land set aside for some special use," especially exclusive use by native peoples, is from 1789, in reference to the Six Nations in New York State. The meaning "act or fact of engaging a room, a seat, etc." is from 1904, also originally American English.
reserved (adj.)
c. 1600, "guarded" (in manner), "averse to showing familiarity," past-participle adjective from reserve (v.). The meaning "set or kept apart for another or future purpose" is by 1610s; specifically of seats, tables, etc., "set aside for a future use," especially by a particular person, from 1858.
reservist (n.)
"soldier who belongs to the reserves," 1872, from French réserviste, from reserver (see reserve (v.)).
reservoir (n.)
1680s, "a place where something tends to collect, place where anything is kept in store," originally figurative, from French réservoir "storehouse," from Old French reserver "set aside, withhold," from Latin reservare "keep back, save up; retain, preserve," from re- "back" (see re-) + servare "to keep, save, preserve, protect" (from PIE root *ser- (1) "to protect").
Specific meaning "capacious artificial basin to collect and store water" is from 1705. Earlier in this sense, and more common late 17c.-early 18c., was reservatory (1660s). Meaning "part of a machinery in which fluid is contained" is by 1784.
reset (v.)
also re-set, 1650s, "place or replace (a gem) in a setting," from re- "back, again" + set (v.). Related: Resetting.
Meaning "cause a device to return to a former condition" is from 1847; the intransitive sense of "return to an initial state" is from 1897. Of broken limbs, by 1884. As a noun, "act of resetting; that which is reset," from 1847.
An older verb reset in English meant "harbor or shelter an outlaw or criminal" (c. 1300), especially in Scottish legal language. It is unrelated, from Old French receter, from Latin receptare, frequentative of recipere "to hold, contain" (see receive).
resettle (v.)
"settle again," 1540s (transitive), in reference to places, from re- "back, again" + settle (v.). Intransitive sense of "become settled again" is from 1821. The meaning "bring into order again" is from 1610s. Related: Resettled; resettling.
resettlement (n.)
"act of resettling; a fresh settlement," in any sense, 1630s, from resettle + -ment. In a South African racial context from 1954.
reshape (v.)
also re-shape, "shape anew, give a new shape to," 1798, from re- "again" + shape (v.). Related: Reshaped; reshaping.
reshuffle (v.)
1816, in reference to packs of playing cards, "to shuffle again;" by 1890, in reference to organizations, "redistribute" posts or positions; from re- "back, again" + shuffle (v.). Related: Reshuffled; reshuffling. As a noun from 1861 in card-playing.
resident (n.)
mid-15c., "an inhabitant, one who dwells in a place permanently or for a considerable time," from resident (adj.). Meaning "medical graduate doing supervised specialized practice in a hospital as training" is attested by 1892, American English.
reside (v.)
late 15c., residen, "to remain at a place," from Old French resider (15c.) and directly from Latin residere "sit down, settle; remain behind, rest, linger; be left," from re- "back, again" (see re-) + sedere "to sit" (from PIE root *sed- (1) "to sit"). The meaning "to dwell permanently or for a considerable time" is attested by 1570s. Related: Resided; residing. Also from the French word are Dutch resideren, German residiren.
residence (n.)
late 14c., "act of dwelling in a place; one's dwelling place," from Old French residence, from Medieval Latin residentia (source also of Spanish residencia, Italian residenza), from Latin residentem (nominative residens) "residing, dwelling," present participle of residere "to settle, linger, sit down" (see reside).
Meaning "fact of having one's usual abode in a particular place" is from late 15c. The sense of "a staying in some place for the discharge of special duties or one's occupation" is also from late 14c., originally ecclesiastical, extended 19c. to professors, artists, poets, etc. The expression _____-in-residence is attested by 1954. Also borrowed into German (Residenz), Dutch (residentie).
resident (adj.)
late 14c., "dwelling, residing, having an abode in a place for a continuance of time," from Old French resident and directly from Latin residentem (nominative residens), present participle of residere "to sit down, settle" (see reside). From early 15c. as "stay in a place in discharge of some duty," originally ecclesiastical.
residency (n.)
1570s, "residence;" see resident + abstract noun suffix -cy. Hospital sense is from 1924.
residential (adj.)
1650s, "serving as a residence," from resident (n.) + -ial. Meaning "pertaining to residents, having to do with housing" is by 1856.
residual (n.)
1550s, in mathematics, "a residual quantity," from residual (adj.) or from residue + -al (2). Residuals "royalties for repeated performance or broadcast" is attested by 1960.
residual (adj.)
"formed by subtraction of one quantity from another, of or like a residuum," 1560s, from residue + -al (1), or from French résiduel, from Latin residuum "that which is left behind." By c. 1600 as "remaining, left over."
residue (n.)
mid-14c., "the remainder, that which is left after a part is taken," from Old French residu (14c.), from Latin residuum "a remainder, that which is left behind," noun use of neuter of adjective residuus "remaining, left over," from residere "remain behind" (see reside). In law, "what remains of an estate after debts, etc. have been paid," early 15c. The Latin original residuum also sometimes was used in English, especially in reference to the physical matter left after any process.
resign (v.)
late 14c., "give up (something), surrender, abandon, submit; relinquish (an office, position, right, claim)," from Old French resigner "renounce, relinquish" (13c.), from Latin resignare "to check off, annul, cancel, give back, give up," from re-, here perhaps denoting "opposite" (see re-), + signare "to make an entry in an account book," literally "to mark," from Latin signum "identifying mark, sign" (see sign (n.)).
The notion is of making an entry (signum) "opposite" — on the credit side — balancing the former mark and thus canceling the claim it represents. The specific meaning "give up a position" also is from late 14c. The sense of "to give (oneself) up to some emotion or situation" is from 1718. Related: Resigned; resigning.
re-sign (v.)
"sign again," 1805, from re- "back, again" + sign (v.). With hyphenated spelling and full pronunciation of the prefix to distinguish it from resign. Related: Re-signed; re-signing.
resignation (n.)
late 14c., resignacioun, "abdication, act of resigning" (an office, claim, etc.), from Old French resignation, resignacion (14c.) and directly from Medieval Latin resignationem (nominative resignatio), noun of action from past-participle stem of Latin resignare "annul, cancel, give back, resign" (see resign). Resignment also was used.
From c. 1500 ("Imitation of Christ") as "surrender to God, resignation to God." The non-spiritual meaning "quiet submission, unresisting acquiescence" is from 1640s.
resigned (adj.)
1650s, "surrendered, given up," past-participle adjective from resign (v.). The meaning "submissive, full of resignation" is by 1670s, implied in resignedly.
resile (v.)
1520s, "to draw back," of persons, from obsolete French resiler "withdraw from an agreement," or directly from Latin resilire "to jump back" (see resilience). The meaning "spring back, start back, recoil" (of material things, especially elastic bodies) is from 1708. Related: Resiled; resiling.
resilience (n.)
1620s, "act of rebounding or springing back," often of immaterial things, from Latin resiliens, present participle of resilire "to rebound, recoil," from re- "back" (see re-) + salire "to jump, leap" (see salient (adj.)). Compare result (v.). In physical sciences, the meaning "elasticity, power of returning to original shape after compression, etc." is by 1824.
resiliency (n.)
1660s, "resilience, tendency to rebound;" see resilience + abstract noun suffix -cy. The meaning "power of recovery" is by 1857.
resilient (adj.)
1640s, "springing back, returning to the original position," from Latin resilientem "inclined to leap or spring back," present participle of resilire "to jump back" (see resilience). Of material things, "resuming original shape after compression, etc.," by 1670s. Figuratively, of persons "bouncing back" from difficulties, etc., from 1830. Related: Resiliently.
resin (n.)
hardened secretions of various plants, used in medicine, varnishes, etc., late 14c., from Old French resine "gum, resin," and directly from Latin resina "resin," from Greek rhētinē "resin of the pine," a word of unknown origin. Applied to synthetic products by 1883. Related: Resiniferous.
resinate (v.)
"impregnate with resin," 1756, from resin + -ate (2). Related: Resinated; resinating.
resinous (adj.)
"of the nature of, pertaining to, or obtained from resin," 1640s, from Latin resinosus, from resina (see resin). Resiny "having a character or quality like resin" is attested from 1570s.
resistance (n.)
mid-14c., resistence, "moral or political opposition;" late 14c., "military or armed physical opposition by force; difficulty, trouble," from Old French resistance, earlier resistence, and directly from Medieval Latin resistentia, from present-participle stem of Latin resistere "make a stand against, oppose" (see resist).
From 1580s as "power or capacity of resisting." The meaning "organized covert opposition to an occupying or ruling power" [OED] is from 1939. The electromagnetic sense of "non-conductivity" is from 1760. Also used in science and engineering with a sense of "force exerted by a medium to retard motion through it," hence the figurative phrase path of least resistance "easiest method or course" (1825), earlier a term in physical sciences and engineering.
resistant (adj.)
early 15c., resistent, "making resistance or opposition," from present-participle stem of Latin resistere "make a stand against, oppose" (see resist). In later use from from French résistant, present participle of résister. In reference to the condition of not being overcome by diseases or drugs, from 1897.
resist (v.)
late 14c., resisten, of persons, "withstand (someone), oppose;" of things, "stop or hinder (a moving body);" from Old French resister "hold out against" (14c.) and directly from Latin resistere "to make a stand against, oppose; to stand back; withstand," from re- "against" (see re-) + sistere "take a stand, stand firm" (from PIE root *sta- "to stand, make or be firm"). Of attacks, invasions, etc., 1530s. Related: Resisted; resisting.
resistible (adj.)
"capable of being resisted," 1640s, from resist (v.) + -ible. Alternative resistable is attested from c. 1600. Related: Resistibly; resistibility.
resister (n.)
"one who or that which opposes or withstands;" see resistor. In modern use this seems to more usual spelling in reference to persons rather than devices.
resistless (adj.)
1580s, "irresistible, incapable of being withstood;" 1590s, "unresisting, powerless to resist," from resist (v.) + -less. Related: Resistlessly; resistlessness. Now apparently obsolete in both senses, probably at least in part due to the somewhat conflicting sense.
resistor (n.)
late 14c., resistour, resister, "one who resists or hinders, one who prevents something from happening;" 1580s, "that which resists;" agent noun in Latin form from resist. In 19c., at least in U.S., resister seems to be the more usual spelling, and was used even in the science of electricity from 1759, though since c. 1900 that device has been a resistor and resister tends to refer to "person who resists" in some way.
resoluble (adj.)
early 15c. in medicine (Chauliac), "capable of being dissolved," from Medieval Latin resolubilis, from re- "back" (see re-) + solubilis "that may be loosened or dissolved" (see soluble). From c. 1600 as "capable of being resolved."
resolution (n.)
late 14c., resolucioun, "a breaking or reducing into parts; process of breaking up, dissolution," from Old French resolution (14c.) and directly from Latin resolutionem (nominative resolutio) "process of reducing things into simpler forms," noun of action from past-participle stem of resolvere "to loosen" (see resolve (v.)).
From the notion of "process of resolving or reducing a non-material thing into simpler forms" (late 14c.) as a method of problem-solving comes the sense of "a solving" (as of mathematical problems), which is recorded by 1540s, as is that of "power of holding firmly, character of acting with a fixed purpose" (compare resolute (adj.)).
The meaning "steadfastness of purpose" is by 1580s. The meaning "effect of an optical instrument in rendering component parts of objects distinguishable" is by 1860. In Middle English it also could mean "a paraphrase" (as a breaking up and rearranging of a text or translation).
In mid-15c. it also meant "frame of mind," often implying a pious or moral determination. By 1580s as "a statement upon some matter;" hence "formal decision or expression of a meeting or assembly," c. 1600. The New Year's resolution in reference to a specific intention to better oneself is from at least the 1780s, and through 19c. they generally were of a pious nature.
resolute (adj.)
early 15c., "dissolved, of loose structure," also "morally lax" (senses all obsolete), from Latin resolutus, past participle of resolvere "untie, unfasten, loose, loosen" (see resolve (v.)).
It emerged c. 1500 in the sense of "determined, decided, absolute, final," especially in the phrase resolute answer, which was "common in 16th c." [OED]. The notion is of "breaking (something) into parts" as the way to arrive at the truth of it and thus make the final determination (compare resolution).
The word has been used from 1530s of persons, "determined in mind, having a fixed resolve." Related: Resolutely; resoluteness. In Middle English a resolutif was a medicine to dissolve and disperse hardened matter (c. 1400).
resolve (v.)
late 14c., resolven, "melt, dissolve, reduce to liquid; separate into component parts; alter, alter in form or nature by application of physical process," " intransitive sense from c. 1400; from Old French resolver or directly from Latin resolvere "to loosen, loose, unyoke, undo; explain; relax; set free; make void, dispel."
This is from re-, here perhaps intensive or meaning "back" (see re-), + solvere "to loosen, untie, release, explain," from PIE *se-lu-, from reflexive pronoun *s(w)e- (see idiom) + root *leu- "to loosen, divide, cut apart."
From the notion of "separate into components" comes the sense in optics (1785; see resolution). From the notion of "reduce by mental analysis into its basic forms" (late 14c.) comes the meaning "determine, decide upon" after analysis (1520s), hence "pass a resolution" (1580s); "decide, settle" a dispute, etc. (1610s). For sense evolution, compare resolute (adj.).
In Middle English also "vaporize a solid, condense a vapor into a liquid, etc.;" a mid-15c. document has Sche was resoluyd in-to terys where a later writer might have she dissolved in tears. Related: Resolved; resolving.
resolvable (adj.)
"capable of being resolved" in any sense, 1640s, from resolve (v.) + -able. Related: Resolvability.
resolve (n.)
"determination, firmness or fixedness of purpose; a determination," 1590s, from resolve (v.). Meaning "a determination of a deliberative body" is from 1650s.
resolved (adj.)
of persons, "determined, resolute, firm," 1510s, past-participle adjective from resolve (v.). Related: Resolvedly.
resonance (n.)
mid-15c., resonaunce, in acoustics, "prolongation or repetition of sound by reflection, reverberation;" from Old French resonance (15c.) and directly from Latin resonantia "an echo," from resonare "to sound again, sound back" (see resound). Earlier in same sense was resonation (early 15c.). From 1660s as "act of resonating."