re-election
UK[ˌriːɪˈlekʃn]US[ˌriːɪˈlekʃn]
n
the act of electing someone again to the same position, especially in politics.
Morpheme Breakdown
re
election
re
again
election
the act of choosing
Etymology
the word 're-election' is a modern english compound formed by attaching the latin prefix 're-' to the existing noun 'election'. the prefix 're-', with its core meaning of "again", is a prolific formative in english, directly borrowed from latin. the root 'election' traces back to latin eligere, composed of e- (out) and legere (to gather, choose), conveying the idea of "choosing out" or selecting from a group. therefore, 're-election' logically narrates the process of being chosen out for a position for a subsequent time, perfectly encapsulating its contemporary political usage.
Analysis
Structure: re (again) + election (the act of choosing)
- re: from latin, a prefix meaning "again" or "back".
- election: from latin electionem (a choice, selection), itself from eligere (to pick out, choose). the morpheme 'elect' functions as the core verb, and '-ion' is a noun-forming suffix indicating an action or process.
Examples
the president is seeking re-election for a second term.
she won her re-election campaign by a significant margin.
the senator announced he would not run for re-election.