Etymology dictionary
reuse (n.) — rhapsodic (adj.)
reuse (n.)
also re-use, 1850, "a second, further, or continued use," from re- "again" + use (n.).
reusable (adj.)
"capable of being reused, suitable for second or continued use," 1922, from re- "again" + usable. Non-reusable is attested from 1905.
Reuters (n.)
news service begun in London 1851 by Baron Paul Julius von Reuter (1816-1899), who in Aachen in 1849 had founded a telegraph office and pigeon post bureau. For the surname, see rutter.
rev (v.)
"cause (an engine) to run quickly," especially when not in gear, 1916, from earlier noun (1901), shortening of revolution, in reference to the internal combustion engine. Related: Revved; revving.
revalue (v.)
"value anew, adjust the value of," 1590s, from re- "again, anew" + value (v.). Related: Revalued; revaluing.
revaluate (v.)
"reassess, form a new valuation of," 1949, probably a back-formation from revaluation.
revaluation (n.)
"second or repeated valuation," 1610s; see re- "again" + valuation.
revamp (v.)
1850, "mend or patch up again," from re- "again" + vamp (v.) "patch up, replace the upper front part of a shoe." An earlier verb was new-vamp (1630s). Modern use is typically figurative. Related: Revamped; revamping.
revanche (n.)
"revenge," especially in national policy, 1858, from French revanche "requital, revenge" (see revanchist).
revanchist (n.)
1926, "a German seeking to avenge Germany's defeat in World War I and recover lost territory," on model of French revanchiste, which had been used in reference to those in France who sought to reverse the results of the defeat of France by Prussia in 1871 (which was accomplished by World War I).
This is from revanche "revenge, requital," especially in reference to a national policy seeking return of lost territory, from French revanche "revenge," earlier revenche, back-formation from revenchier (see revenge (v.)). Used during the Cold War in Soviet propaganda in reference to West Germany. Related: Revanchism (1954).
reveal (v.)
c. 1400, revelen, "disclose, divulge, make known (supernaturally or by divine agency, as religious truth)," from Old French reveler "reveal" (14c.), from Latin revelare "reveal, uncover, disclose," literally "unveil," from re- "back, again," here probably indicating "opposite of" or transition to an opposite state (see re-) + velare "to cover, veil," from velum "a veil" (see veil (n.)). Related: Revealed; revealer; revealing. Meaning "display, make clear or visible, expose to sight" is from c. 1500.
revealed (adj.)
"brought to light, disclosed," 1560s, past-participle adjective from reveal. Revealed religion, made known by direct divine agency, as opposed to natural religion, is attested from 1719.
revealing (adj.)
"that reveals," 1590s, present-participle adjective from reveal (v.). Related: Revealingly.
reveille (n.)
"signal given at break of day to soldiers and sentries" (originally by drum or bugle), 1640s, from French réveillez-vous "awaken!" imperative plural of réveiller "to awaken, to wake up," from re- "again" (see re-) + Middle French eveiller "to rouse," from Vulgar Latin *exvigilare, from Latin ex- "out" (see ex-) + vigilare "be awake, keep watch" (from PIE root *weg- "to be strong, be lively").
revel (v.)
early 14c., revelen, "to feast in a noisy manner, make merry;" late 14c., "take part in revels," from Old French reveler, also rebeller "be disorderly, make merry; rebel, be riotous," from Latin rebellare "to rebel" (see rebel (v.)). The meaning "take great pleasure in" is recorded by 1754. Related: Reveled; reveling; revelled; revelling.
revel (n.)
late 14c. (c. 1200 as a surname), "riotous merry-making," also an occasion of this, from Old French revel, resvel "entertainment, revelry," verbal noun from reveler, also rebeller (14c.) "be disorderly, make merry" (see rebel (adj.)). "The development of sense in OF. is 'rebellion, tumult, disturbance, noisy mirth'" [OED].
Formerly especially a kind of dance or performance given in connection with masks or pageants, a dancing procession (usually revels). Related: revel-rout "riotous throng."
revelator (n.)
"one who makes known events, deeds, etc., " mid-15c., agent noun from obsolete verb revelate "reveal" (1510s), from Latin revelatus, past participle of revelare (see reveal). "Rare and objectionable" [Century Dictionary]. As a title in the Mormon church, by 1850. John the Revelator for the author of the Biblical book of Revelation is by 1650s.
reveler (n.)
also reveller, late 14c., revelour, "one who indulges in revels, one who takes part in merry-making," hence also "one who leads a disorderly or licentious life," from Old French revelour, agent noun from reveler "be disorderly; make merry" (see revel (v.)).
revelation (n.)
c. 1300, revelacioun, "disclosure of information or knowledge to man by a divine or supernatural agency," from Old French revelacion and directly from Latin revelationem (nominative revelatio), noun of action from past-participle stem of revelare "unveil, uncover, lay bare" (see reveal).
The general meaning "disclosure of facts to those previously unaware of them" is attested from late 14c.; meaning "striking disclosure" is from 1862. As the name of the last book of the New Testament (Revelation of St. John), it is attested from late 14c. (see apocalypse); as simply Revelations, it is recorded by 1690s.
revelatory (adj.)
"serving to reveal; having the nature or character of a revelation," 1882; see revelation + -ory.
revelry (n.)
"act of reveling; merrymaking, boisterous festivity, amusement," early 15c., revelrie, from revel (n.) + -ery.
revenant (n.)
"one who returns," especially after a long absence; "a ghost, one who returns from the dead," 1814 (in "Rosanne" by Laetitia Matilda Hawkins), from French revenant (fem. revenante), noun use of present participle of revenir "to return" (see revenue).
revenge (n.)
"retaliation for wrongs real or fancied, act of doing harm or injury in return for wrong or injury suffered," 1540s, from French revenge, a back-formation from revengier (see revenge (v.)). Hence "vindictive feeling, desire to be revenged."
revengeful (adj.)
"vindictive, full of desire to inflict injury or pain for wrongs received," 1580s; see revenge (n.) + -ful. Related: Revengefully; revengefulness.
revenge (v.)
late 14c., revengen, "avenge oneself," from Old French revengier, revenger, variants of revenchier "take revenge, avenge" (13c., Modern French revancher), from re-, here perhaps an intensive prefix (see re-), + vengier "take revenge," from Latin vindicare "to lay claim to, avenge, punish" (see vindication). Transitive sense of "take vengeance on account of" is from early 15c. Related: Revenged; revenging; revengement.
revenue (n.)
early 15c., "income from property or possessions," from Old French revenue "a return," noun use of fem. past participle of revenir "come back" (10c.), from Latin revenire "return, come back," from re- "back" (see re-) + venire "to come" (from a suffixed form of PIE root *gwa- "to go, come").
The meaning "public income, annual income of a government or state" is recorded from 1680s; revenue sharing was popularized from 1971, the Nixon Administration's policy of returning power to state and local governments by steering federal taxpayer money to them. Revenuer "U.S. Department of Revenue agent," the bane of Appalachian moonshiners, is attested by 1880.
revere (v.)
"regard with deep respect and veneration," 1660s, from French révérer, from Latin revereri "revere, fear," from re-, here perhaps an intensive prefix (see re-), + vereri "stand in awe of, fear, respect" (from PIE root *wer- (3) "perceive, watch out for"). Reverence was the earlier form of the verb. Related: Revered; revering.
reverence (v.)
late 14c., reverencen, "treat (someone) with respect, honor; venerate, pay pious homage to; esteem, value; bow to (someone); do honor to," from reverence (n.). Related: Reverenced; reverencing.
reverence (n.)
late 13c., "honor, respect, deference (shown to someone), esteem heightened by awe," also of places or holy objects, from Old French reverence "respect, awe" and directly from Latin reverentia "awe, respect," from revereri "to stand in awe of, respect, honor, fear, be afraid of; revere," from re-, here perhaps an intensive prefix (see re-), + vereri "stand in awe of, fear, respect" (from PIE root *wer- (3) "perceive, watch out for").
From late 14c. as "state of being revered or venerated." As a respectful form of address, with possessive pronoun, to a clergyman or ecclesiastic, late 14c. (Gower), "latterly only used by the lower classes, esp. in Ireland" [OED].
reverent (adj.)
late 14c., "inspiring respect, honorable, reverend;" late 15c., "feeling or displaying reverence, deeply respectful," from Old French reverent and directly from Latin reverentem (nominative reverens), present participle of revereri "stand in awe of" (see reverence (n.)). The older sense of "reverend" was common 14c. through 17c., but OED marks it "Now rare." Related: Reverently.
reverb (n.)
1961, colloquial shortening of reverberation. Shakespeare uses it as a verb (Lear).
reverberate (v.)
1570s, "beat back, drive back, force back" (the classical sense, now obsolete), from Latin reverberatus, past participle of reverberare "strike back, repel, cause to rebound" (see reverberation).
In reference to sound or noise, "re-echo," from 1590s, on the notion of "bend back, reflect." An earlier verb was reverberen "send (heat) back" to a part of the body (early 15c., Chauliac). Related: Reverberated; reverberating.
reverberation (n.)
late 14c., reverberacioun, "reflection of light or heat, repercussion of air," from Old French reverberacion "great flash of light; intense quality" and directly from Medieval Latin reverberationem (nominative reverberatio), noun of action from past-participle stem of Latin reverberare "beat back, strike back, repel, cause to rebound." This is from from re- "back" (see re-) + verberare "to strike, to beat," from verber "whip, lash, rod," related to verbena "leaves and branches of laurel" (from *werb- "to turn, bend," from PIE root *wer- (2) "to turn, bend"). The sense of "an echo" is attested from 1620s.
reverberant (adj.)
"reverberating," especially "returning sound, resounding," 1570s, from French réverbérant or directly from Latin reverberantem (nominative reverberans), present participle of reverberare "to beat back, strike back" (see reverberation).
reverend (adj.)
early 15c., also reverent, "worthy of deep respect, worthy to be revered" due to age, character, etc., from Old French reverent, reverend and directly from Latin reverendus "(he who is) to be respected," gerundive of revereri "to stand in awe of, respect, honor, fear, be afraid of; revere," from re-, here perhaps an intensive prefix (see re-), + vereri "stand in awe of, fear, respect" (from PIE root *wer- (3) "perceive, watch out for").
As a form of address for clergymen, it is attested from late 15c.; earlier reverent (late 14c. in this sense). Prefixed to names by 1640s. Abbreviation Rev. is attested from 1721, earlier Revd. (1690s). Very Reverend is used of deans, Right Reverend of bishops, Most Reverend of archbishops.
reverend (n.)
"clergyman," c. 1500, from reverend (adj.). Used as a courteous or respectful address from late 15c.
reverential (adj.)
"characterized by or expressive of reverence," 1550s, from Latin reverentia "awe, respect" (see reverence (n.)) + -al (1). Related: Reverentially.
reverie (n.)
mid-14c., reuerye, "wild conduct, frolic," from Old French reverie, resverie "revelry, rejoicing, wantonness, raving, delirium" (Modern French rêverie), from resver "to dream, wander, rave" (12c., Modern French rêver), a word of uncertain origin (also the source of rave).
The meaning "a daydream" also "fit of abstract musing, state of mental abstraction" is attested from 1650s, a reborrowing from French, which might explain why this old word in English has not been fully nativized as revery. "The most obvious external feature marking this state is the apparent unconsciousness or imperfect perception of external objects" [Century Dictionary]. As a type of instrumental musical composition, it is attested from 1880. Related: Reverist.
reversible (adj.)
"capable of being reversed" in any sense of that word, 1640s, from reverse (v.) + -ible. As a noun, "garment of a textile fabric having two faces, usually unlike, either of which may be exposed," by 1863. Related: Reversable (1580s).
reversion (n.)
late 14c., reversioun, a legal word used in reference to the return of an estate to the heirs of a grantor on the expiration of the grant, from Old French reversion and directly from Latin reversionem (nominative reversio) "act of turning back," noun of action from past-participle stem of revertere (see revert). From early 15c. as "a return to a place."
reverse (adj.)
c. 1300, "opposite, contrary in position or direction, turned backward," from Old French revers "reverse, cross, opposite" (13c.) and directly from Latin reversus, past participle of revertere "turn back, turn about, come back, return" (see revert). In reference to a gear mechanism enabling a vehicle to go backward without changing the rotation of the engine, by 1875. Reverse angle (shot, etc.) in film-making is from 1934. Reverse discrimination is attested from 1962, American English. Reverse dictionary, one in which the words are arranged alphabetically by last letter to first, is by 1954.
reverse (n.)
mid-14c., "that which is directly opposite or contrary" (of something), from reverse (adj.) or from Old French revers, reverse "the opposite, reverse," or directly from Latin reversus, past participle of revertere. The meaning "a defeat, a change of fortune for the worse" is from 1520s. In numismatics, "the back or inferior side of a coin, the side without the main device or inscription" is from 1620s. As "the reverse gear of an engine or motor vehicle" by 1900. As a type of sports play (originally rugby) it is recorded from 1921.
reverse (v.)
early 14c., reversen, (transitive), "change, alter" (a sense now obsolete); late 14c., "turn (someone or something) in an opposite direction, turn the other way, turn inside out," also in a general sense, "alter to the opposite;" from Old French reverser "reverse, turn around; roll, turn up" (12c.), from Late Latin reversare "turn about, turn back," frequentative of Latin revertere "turn back, turn about; come back, return" (see revert).
From c. 1400 as "turn (something) upside down;" from early 15c. as "go backward" (intransitive). Of judicial sentences, "set aside, make void," mid-15c. In mechanics, "cause to revolve or act in a contrary direction," by 1860; the sense of "put a motor vehicle in reverse gear" is by 1902. Related: Reversed; reversing.
revert (v.)
c. 1300, reverten, "to come to oneself again, regain consciousness, recover from illness" (senses now obsolete), from Anglo-French reverter, Old French revertir "return, change back," from Vulgar Latin *revertire, variant of Latin revertere "turn back, turn about; come back, return," from re- "back" (see re-) + vertere "to turn" (from PIE root *wer- (2) "to turn, bend").
Meaning "return to a former state or position" is from mid-15c. Of property, "revert to a grantor or his successor," from mid-15c.; in reference to a return to a former habit, practice, custom, etc., from 1610s. In biology, "go back to an earlier, primitive, or ancestral type," 1859. Related: Reverted; reverting.
revest (v.)
"clothe again," with or as with a garment, c. 1300, revesten, from Old French revestir, from Late Latin revestire "to clothe again," from re- "back, again" (see re-) + vestire "to clothe, dress, adorn" (see vest (v.)). Related: Revested; revesting.
revetment (n.)
"a breastwork, retaining wall," 1779, from French revêtement, Old French revestiment, from revestir (Modern French revêtir), from Late Latin revestire "to clothe again," from re- "again, back" (see re-) + Latin vestire "to clothe" (from PIE root *eu- "to dress").
revictual (v.)
1520s, "furnish again with provisions" (transitive), from re- "back, again" + victual (v.). Intransitive sense of "renew one's stock of provisions" is from 1610s. In early use often revittle. Related: Revictualed; revictualing.
review (v.)
1570s, "re-view, examine or view again," from re- "again" + view (v.). The meaning "look back on, recall by the aid of memory" is from 1751; that of "consider or discuss critically to bring out the excellences and defects" especially in the form of a written essay is from 1781. Related: Reviewed; reviewing.
reviewer (n.)
1610s, "one who revises" (a sense now obsolete), agent noun from review (v.). As "one who critically examines and passes judgment on new publications or productions; a writer of reviews," from 1650s.
re-view (n.)
"a second or repeated viewing," 1660s, from re- "again" + view (n.). With hyphenated spelling and full pronunciation of the prefix to distinguish it from review.
review (n.)
mid-15c., review, revewe, reveue, "a formal inspection of military forces" by a higher official or superior in rank, to judge the effectiveness of their training, from Old French reveue "a reviewing, review" (Modern French revue), noun use of fem. past participle of reveeir "to see again, go to see again," from Latin revidere, from re- "again" (see re-) + videre "to see" (from PIE root *weid- "to see").
The sense of "act or process of going over again," especially with a view to correction, is from 1560s. The meaning "general survey of a subject" is from c. 1600; that of "a view of the past, a retrospective survey" is from 1670s. The meaning "general examination or criticism of a recent literary, dramatic, or artistic work" is attested from 1640s. Hence review used as a name for a periodical which publishes mainly articles on current affairs or critical examinations of literary works (1705).
revile (v.)
c. 1300, revilen, "debase, degrade" (a sense now obsolete);" mid-14c., "insult, taunt, vilify, assail with abusive language," from Old French reviler "consider vile, despise, scorn," from re-, here perhaps an intensive prefix (see re-), + aviler "make vile or cheap, disesteem," from vil "shameful, dishonorable; low-born; cheap; ugly, hideous" (see vile (adj.)). Related: Reviled; reviler; reviling.
revilement (n.)
"act of reviling; contemptuous or insulting language," 1580s, from revile + -ment. Earlier nouns were revile, reviling (both mid-15c.).
revise (v.)
1560s, "to look at again" (a sense now obsolete), from French reviser (13c.), from Latin revisere "look at again, visit again, look back on," frequentative of revidere (past participle revisus) "see again, go to see again," from re- "again" (here probably denoting "repetition of an action;" see re-) + videre "to see" (from PIE root *weid- "to see"). Meaning "to look over again with intent to improve or amend" is recorded from 1590s. Related: Revised; revising.
revised (adj.)
past-participle adjective from revise (v.). Revised Version of the Bible was done 1870-84 in Great Britain by more than 50 scholars from various denominations; so called because it was a revision of the 1611 ("King James") translation, also known as the Authorized Version. More accurate, less lovely.
revision (n.)
1610s, "act of looking over again, re-examination and correction," from French révision, from Late Latin revisionem (nominative revisio) "a seeing again," noun of action from past-participle stem of Latin revidere "see again, go to see again" (see revise). Meaning "that which is revised, a product of revision" is from 1845.
revisionism (n.)
1903, from revision + -ism. Originally in reference to a policy of introducing socialism gradually, by evolution rather than revolution, used as a term of abuse by Marxists. The general sense of "revised attitude toward some situation, doctrine, etc." is by 1921. Revisionist (adj.) "favoring or supporting revision" (of a creed, law, etc.) is from 1850; as a noun from 1854 in reference to one who favors or supports revision; specifically in reference to historical narratives by 1934, originally of the causes of World War I.
revisit (v.)
c. 1500, revisiten, "to visit (a place) again, return to," from Old French revisiter and directly from Latin revisitare; see re- + visit (v.). Related: Revisited; revisiting; revisitation.
revitalize (v.)
"put new life into, restore vitality," 1840, from re- "back, again" + vitalize. Related: Revitalized; revitalizing.
revitalization (n.)
"act or fact of being given fresh life and vigor, act of revitalizing," 1869, noun of action from revitalize.
revival (n.)
1650s, "act of reviving after decline or discontinuance;" specifically from 1660s as, "the bringing back to the stage of a play which has not been presented for a considerable time;" from revive + -al (2).
The sense of "a general and extraordinary religious awakening in a community" is in Cotton Mather (1702, revival of religion); by 1818 it was used of enthusiastic religious meetings (often by Methodists) meant to inspire revival. In reference to the Victorian popularity of Gothic architecture, by 1850. Revivalist "one who promotes or leads a religious revival" is attested by 1812. Related: Revivalism.
revive (v.)
early 15c., reviven, "regain consciousness; recover health," also transitive, "restore (someone) to health, revive (someone or something)," from Old French revivre (10c.) and directly from Latin revivere "to live again," from re- "again" (see re-) + vivere "to live" (from PIE root *gwei- "to live").
The meaning "bring back to use or notice" is from mid-15c.; as "put an old play on stage again after a lapse of time" by 1823. The intransitive sense of "return to a flourishing state" is by 1560s. Of feelings, activities, "begin to occur again" (intransitive), mid-15c. Related: Revived; reviving.
revivify (v.)
"restore to animation or activity" after actual or apparent death, 1670s, from French revivifier (16c.) and directly from Late Latin revivificare, from re- "back, again" (see re-) + Latin vivificare "make alive, restore to life" (see vivify). Related: Revivified; revivifying; revivification.
revocable (adj.)
c. 1500, "capable of being rescinded or recalled," from Old French revocable or directly from Latin revocabilis "that may be revoked," from revocare "call back" (see revoke). Alternative spelling revokable was frequent 16c.-17c.
revocation (n.)
early 15c., revocacioun, "a recalling from exile; a retraction" of an oath, etc.; from Old French revocacion and directly from Latin revocationem (nominative revocatio) "a calling back, recalling," noun of action from past-participle stem of revocare "to call back, rescind" (see revoke).
revoke (v.)
mid-14c., revoken, "make a retraction, renounce," from Old French revoquer (13c.), from Latin revocare "rescind, call back," from re- "back" (see re-) + vocare "to call," which is related to vox (genitive vocis) "voice" (from PIE root *wekw- "to speak"). From late 14c. as "call back to a place or state;" from c. 1400 as "repeal, annul." Related: Revoked; revoking; revocatory.
revolt (n.)
"insurrection, rebellion, uprising against government or authority," 1550s, from French révolte (c. 1500), which is a back-formation from revolter (see revolt (v.)) or else from cognate Italian rivolta.
revolt (v.)
1540s, "cast off allegiance, rise against rulers, break away from established authority," from French revolter (15c.), which is from or cognate with Italian rivoltare "to overthrow, overturn," from Vulgar Latin *revolvitare "to overturn, overthrow," frequentative of Latin revolvere (past participle revolutus) "turn, roll back" (see revolve). Related: Revolted; revolting.
revolting (adj.)
1590s, "rebellious, that revolts, given to revolt," present-participle adjective from revolt (v.). The sense of "repulsive" is from 1749 (implied in revoltingness), from the verb in a sense of "cause to turn away in abhorrence or disgust" (also "rise in repugnance" against, "turn in loathing" from), a sense developed by mid-18c. Related: Revoltingly.
revolute (v.)
"to start or engage in a revolution," 1890, a back-formation from revolution. Related: Revoluted; revoluting.
revolution (n.)
late 14c., revolucioun, originally of celestial bodies, "one (apparent) rotation about the earth," also the time required for this, also "act or fact of moving in a circular course," from Old French revolucion "course, revolution" of celestial bodies (13c.) or directly from Late Latin revolutionem (nominative revolutio) "a revolving," noun of action from past-participle stem of Latin revolvere "turn, roll back" (see revolve).
From early 15c. as "a cyclical reoccurrence, recurrent changes or events" (in reference to seasons, etc.), also "the revolving of a wheel." It is attested by 1660s as "action on the part of an object or person of turning round or moving round a point."
The sense of "an instance of great change in affairs" is recorded from mid-15c. The political meaning "overthrow of an established political or social system" is recorded by c. 1600, from French, and it was especially applied in England to the expulsion of the Stuart dynasty under James II in 1688 and transfer of sovereignty to William and Mary under a purer constitutional government. Green revolution in global food production is attested from 1970.
revolutionize (v.)
1797, "to cause (a state, etc.) to undergo a (political) revolution, effect a change in the political constitution of;" see revolution + -ize. Transferred sense of "change a thing completely and fundamentally, effect radical change in" is by 1799. Related: Revolutionized; revolutionizing.
revolutionary (adj.)
"pertaining to or concerned with revolution in government," 1774; see revolution + -ary. As a noun, "one who desires or endeavors to effect social or political revolution," by 1850 (compare revolutionist).
revolutionist (n.)
"an advocate of or participant in revolution," 1710; see revolution + -ist. A supporter of the English Revolution of 1688 might be a revolutioner (1690s).
revolver (n.)
"revolving firearm," originally and especially a type of pistol able to fire multiple shots without reloading, 1835, agent noun from revolve (v.). So called by U.S. inventor Samuel Colt (1814-1862) for its revolving bored barrel (later models used a revolving chamber cylinder).
revolving (adj.)
"making revolutions, rotating," 1690s, present-participle adjective from revolve (v.). Revolving door is attested from 1856 in industrial processes, 1896 in buildings.
revolve (v.)
late 14c., revolven, "to change; change direction, bend around," from Old French revolver and directly from Latin revolvere "roll back, unroll, unwind; happen again, return; go over, repeat," from re- "back, again" (see re-) + volvere "to roll" (from PIE root *wel- (3) "to turn, revolve").
From early 15c. as "to turn over (in the mind or heart), meditate." Also formerly "to pass through periodic changes," hence "to come around in process of time" (1590s).
The transitive sense of "cause (something) to move in an orbit around a central point" is from 1660s. Intransitive sense of "perform a circular motion" about or round a fixed point, as the planets about the sun, is by 1713; that of "rotate, turn or roll about upon an axis or center" is by 1738. Related: Revolved; revolving; revolvement; revolvency.
revote (v.)
also re-vote, "to vote again or a second time," by 1865, from re- "back, again" + vote (v.). Related: Revoted; revoting.
revue (n.)
1872, "a show presenting a review of current events," from French revue, literally "survey," noun use of fem. past participle of revoir "to see again" (see review (n.)). By 1890s it was extended to any elaborate musical show consisting of a series of unrelated scenes.
revulsion (n.)
1540s, as a medical term for counter-irritation as a healing technique, from French revulsion (16c.) or directly from Latin revulsionem (nominative revulsio) "a tearing off, act of pulling away," noun of action from past-participle stem of revellere "to pull away," from re- "away" (see re-) + vellere "to tear, pull" (from PIE *wel-no-, suffixed form of *uelh- "to strike;" see svelte).
From c. 1600 as "act of drawing back or away." The meaning "sudden or violent change of feeling," especially "sudden reaction of disgust" is attested by 1816.
rewaken (v.)
"waken again," 1630s; see re- "again" + waken (v.). Related: Rewakened; rewakening.
reward (n.)
mid-14c., "what one deserves, just desserts," from Anglo-French and Old North French reward, rouwart, back-formation from rewarder (see reward (v.)).
The meaning "return or payment for service, hardship, etc.," also "something given in recognition of merit, virtue, etc., a prize" is from late 14c. Also from late 14c. sometimes "punishment, recompense for evil-doing." The sense of "sum of money in exchange for capture of a criminal or fugitive or for return of a lost item" is from 1590s.
A doublet of regard (n.), reward also was used in Middle English in the senses now given to that word: "a regarding, heeding, notice, observation," also "respect, esteem."
rewarding (adj.)
"that rewards," 1690s, present-participle adjective from reward (v.).
reward (v.)
c. 1300, rewarden, "to grant, bestow;" early 14c. "to give as prize or compensation," from Anglo-French and Old North French rewarder "to regard, reward" (Old French regarder) "take notice of, regard, watch over." This is from re-, here perhaps an intensive prefix (see re-), + warder "look, heed, watch," from Frankish or some other Germanic language, from Proto-Germanic *wardon "to guard" (from PIE root *wer- (3) "perceive, watch out for").
Originally any form of requital, good or bad, for service or evil-doing. A doublet of regard (v.), reward was used 14c.-15c. in the senses now given to that word: "look at; care about; consider." Related: Rewarded; rewarding.
rewind (v.)
also re-wind, "wind again, wind back," 1717, from re- "back, again" + wind (v.1). The noun meaning "mechanism for rewinding film or tape" is recorded from 1938; the sense of "act or process of winding backwards" is by 1964. Related: Rewound; rewinding.
rewire (v.)
also re-wire, "provide with new or different wiring," 1903, from re- "back, again" + wire (v.). Related: Rewired; rewiring.
reword (v.)
c. 1600, "to repeat, put in words again," from re- "back, again" + word (v.) "put in words." The meaning "express in other words" is by 1882. Related: Reworded; rewording.
rework (v.)
"to work (something) again or anew," 1842, from re- "again" + work (v.). Related: Reworked; reworking.
rewrite (v.)
1560s, "reply in writing," from re- "back, again" + write (v.). The sense of "write again, write a second time" especially in a different form is by 1730. Related: Rewrote; rewritten; rewriting. The newspaper rewrite man, who works up copy for publication from information or stories phoned or sent in by reporters, is recorded from 1901. As a noun, "act of revising copy or a text," from 1926.
rex (n.)
"a king," 1610s, from Latin rex (genitive regis) "a king," related to regere "to keep straight, guide, lead, rule" (from PIE root *reg- "move in a straight line," with derivatives meaning "to direct in a straight line," thus "to lead, rule;" source also of Sanskrit raj- "king;" Old Irish ri "king," genitive rig).
Reykjavik
capital of Iceland, literally "bay of smoke," from Old Norse reykja "to smoke" related to reykr "smoke, steam" (see reek (n.)) + vik "bay" (see viking). So called from the natural hot springs there. Its settlement is said to date from 9c., but it was not established as a town until 1786.
Reynard (n.)
quasi-proper name for a fox, c. 1300, Renard, from Old French Renart, Reynard, the name of the fox in Roman de Renart, from Old High German personal name Reginhart "strong in counsel," literally "counsel-brave." The first element is related to reckon, the second to hard.
The tales were enormously popular in medieval Western Europe; in them animals take the place of humans and each has a name: the lion is Noble, the cat Tibert, the bear Bruin, etc. The name of the fox thus became the word for "fox" in Old French (displacing golpil, gulpil, from a Vulgar Latin diminutive of Latin vulpes).
Old French also had renardie "craftiness." An old variant form of the name was Renald, and thus English had for a time renaldry "intrigue" (1610s). Old English had the first element of the name as regn-, an intensive prefix (as in regn-heard "very hard," regn-þeof "arch-thief," also in personal names).
Reynold
masc. proper name, from Old French Reinald (Modern French Renaut, Latinized as Reginaldus), a popular name among the Normans, from Old High German Reginald, the first element related to reckon, the second to Old English wealdan "to rule," from Proto-Germanic *waldan "to rule," source of wield, from PIE root *wal- "to be strong." Related: Reynolds.
rezone (v.)
also re-zone, "assign a new or different land-use designation to" (a property or parcel), by 1951, American English, from re- "again" + zone (v.). Related: Rezoned; rezoning.
RFD
also R.F.D.; 1882, American English, it stands for rural free delivery.
rh-
consonantal digraph, an initial sequence used in Latin (and thus in English words from Latin) to represent Greek initial aspirated r-. The medial Greek form of it usually is represented by -rrh-, as in catarrh, diarrhea, hemorrhage, myrrh, Pyrrhic. As it was pronounced as simply "r" in Middle English (as in Old French and Spanish), the -h- tended to be dropped in spelling but was restored in early Modern English with the classical revival.
Rh.
chemical symbol of rhodium (q.v.).
rhabdomancy (n.)
1640s, "dowsing, use of a divining rod" (especially to find things hidden in the earth, ores or underground water), with -mancy "divination by means of" (from Greek manteia "divination, oracle") + Greek rhabdos "rod, wand; magic wand; fishing rod; spear-shaft; a staff of office; a rod for chastisement; twig, stick." Greek rhabdos is from PIE *wer- (2), base of roots meaning "to turn, bend" (source also of Lithuanian virbas "twig, branch, scion, rod," Latin verbena "leaves and branches of laurel").
The Greek noun was used to represent Roman fasces. Related: Rhabdomantic; rhabdomancer.
Rhadamanthus (n.)
name of one of the three judges of the Underworld in Greek mythology, son of Zeus and Europa, from Latinized form of Greek Rhadamanthos, whose name seems to contain Greek rhadamos "branch, twig, shoot." Used in English from 1580s allusively of inflexible judges or solid and final judgment. Related: Rhadamantine; Rhadamanthean.
Rhaetian (n.)
c. 1600, from Latin Rhætia, ancient name of a district in the Alps and of a Roman province between the Rhine, Danube, and Po; from Rhaeti, Raiti, name of a native people. Hence Rhaeto-Romanic (1867), Rhaeto-Romance in reference to the language or dialects of parts of the Tyrol and southeastern Switzerland. Related: Rhaetic.
rhapsodic (adj.)
"characteristic of, or of the nature of, rhapsody; exalted or exaggeratedly enthusiastic, marked by extravagance of idea and expression," 1782, from Latinized form of Greek rhapsōdikos "of or for a rhapsodist," from rhapsōidia (see rhapsody). Related: Rhapsodical; Rhapsodically (c. 1600).