Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “rediscovery” come from?

Rediscovery is formed from English re- combined with discovery, tracing through Middle English and Old French re- back to Latin re-, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European wer- meaning to turn or bend.

rediscovery (English): The act of rediscovering; A second or subsequent...

Definitions

  1. The act of rediscovering; A second or subsequent...

Ancestry of “rediscovery”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishdiscoverySomething discovered; The discovering of new...
2EnglishDiscover—
3Middle Englishdiscoveren—
4Old Frenchdescovrirto uncover, to reveal; to discover
5Latindiscoperīre—
6Latindiscooperiō—
7Latincooperiō—
8Latincōn-—
9Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
10Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
11Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
12Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
13Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
14Middle Englishkyt—
15Germankitt—
16Old High Germankuti—
17Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
18Proto-Germanickweduzresin
19Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
20Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...
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