reborn
UK[ˌriːˈbɔːn]US[ˌriːˈbɔːrn]
adj
Having become active, popular, or successful again
adj
Having been born again, especially with a different spiritual identity or purpose
Morpheme Breakdown
re
born
re
again
born
given birth to
Etymology
The word 'reborn' is a transparent compound formed within English from the productive prefix 're-' and the past participle 'born'. The prefix 're-', from Latin, carries the core sense of repetition or return, while 'born' stems from the Old English verb for bearing a child, with deep Proto-Indo-European roots in the concept of carrying. This literal combination to mean "born again" first appeared in Middle English. Its meaning naturally extended from the physical or spiritual sense to any figurative revival or renewal, such as the resurgence of an idea, movement, or career, logically following the concept of a return to a new state of existence.
Analysis
Structure: re (again) + born (given birth to)
- re: Latin origin. A prefix meaning "again" or "back."
- born: Old English origin (boren, past participle of beran 'to bear'). The state of having come into life.
Examples
The artist's reputation was reborn after the successful exhibition.
He felt like a reborn man after his religious conversion.
The classic franchise was reborn as a hit television series.