react
UK[riˈækt]US[riˈækt]
v
To behave or change in a particular way when something happens, or as a result of something.
v
To experience a bad physical effect after eating, breathing, or touching a particular substance.
v
(Of a substance) to change after coming into contact with another substance.
Morpheme Breakdown
re
act
re
again, back
act
do
Etymology
The word "react" is a modern formation built directly from classical Latin elements. It combines the prefix re-, meaning "back" or "again," with the verb stem act, derived from Latin agere (to do, to drive). The literal, mechanical sense is "to act back" or "to act in return." This core idea evolved from describing a physical force meeting an equal and opposite force to encompass any response—chemical, biological, emotional, or social—where one entity or condition acts upon or in response to another. The term perfectly encapsulates the concept of reciprocal action or counter-action fundamental to physics, chemistry, and human behavior.
Analysis
Structure: re (again, back) + act (do)
- re: A Latin prefix meaning "again, back, backward."
- act: From Latin actus (a doing, a driving), from the verb agere (to do, to drive, to lead). It functions as the core root meaning "to do."
Examples
How did he react when you told him the news?
Some people react badly to penicillin.
Iron reacts with oxygen and water to form rust.