recopy
Meaning
To copy something again.
Structure
Usage
The document was smudged, so I had to recopy it neatly.
Please recopy these notes onto a fresh sheet of paper.
The scribe was ordered to recopy the entire manuscript after discovering an error.
Etymology
The word 'recopy' is a transparent modern English formation, combining the productive Latin-derived prefix 're-' with the verb 'copy.' The prefix 're-' originates from Latin, carrying its core meaning of "again," which directly and logically modifies the action of the base word. 'Copy' itself descends from Latin 'copia' ("abundance, transcript"), which entered English through Old French 'copie.' The compound 'recopy' therefore follows a straightforward morphological logic: to perform the action of making a duplicate (copy) for a second or subsequent time (re-). This pattern of prefixation is highly productive in English, allowing for the clear and efficient creation of new verbs indicating repetition.
Analysis
- re: A prefix of Latin origin, meaning "again" or "back." It functions as a derivational prefix indicating repetition. - copy: A verb of Latin origin (via Anglo-French), from 'copia' meaning "abundance, transcript." It functions as the base verb meaning to make a duplicate.