recurrent
UK[rɪˈkʌrənt]US[rɪˈkɜːrənt]
adj
happening or appearing again, especially repeatedly or periodically
adj
(anatomy, of a nerve, vein, etc.) turning back so as to reverse direction
Morpheme Breakdown
re
curr
ent
re
again
curr
run
ent
adjective suffix
Etymology
the word 'recurrent' is built upon the latin verb 'currere', meaning "to run". the prefix 're-', signifying "back" or "again", is attached to the present participle stem 'current-', creating the sense of "running back". the english adjective suffix '-ent' was then added. thus, the literal meaning "running back" evolved logically into the modern abstract sense of something that happens or returns repeatedly, as if running back to the same point. in anatomical contexts, it describes structures that double back on their course.
Analysis
Structure: re (again) + curr (run) + ent (adjective suffix)
re: latin origin, a prefix meaning "again" or "back".
curr: from latin 'currere', meaning "to run".
ent: latin suffix '-ent-', forming adjectives meaning "that does or performs (the action of the verb)".
Examples
she suffers from recurrent nightmares about the accident.
the patient was treated for a recurrent infection.
the recurrent theme in his novels is the struggle for identity.