reanimate
Meaning
to bring something back to life or activity
to give new energy or vigor to something; to revive
Structure
Usage
the scientists in the story used a powerful device to reanimate the long-frozen creature.
a strong cup of coffee was enough to reanimate him after the long meeting.
the new funding helped to reanimate the community arts program.
Etymology
the word 'reanimate' is a direct combination of the latin prefix 're-' and the verb 'animate'. the core root 'anim-' originates from the latin 'anima', meaning 'breath, soul, life force', which itself traces back to the proto-indo-european root h₂enh₁-, meaning 'to breathe'. the prefix 're-' introduces the concept of repetition or restoration. therefore, the literal construction 'to give life again' perfectly captures the modern meanings of restoring life to something inert or reviving energy and activity in a person, project, or idea.
Analysis
re- (latin prefix, meaning 'again' or 'back'), animate (latin root, from 'animare', meaning 'to give life to' or 'to fill with breath')