redecorate
UK[ˌriːˈdekəreɪt]US[ˌriːˈdekəreɪt]
v
to change the way a room or the inside of a building looks by painting it, putting new furniture in it, etc.
v
to decorate something again, especially in a different style or color.
Morpheme Breakdown
re
decorate
re
again
decorate
make attractive
Etymology
the verb 'decorate' entered english in the 16th century from latin 'decoratus', the past participle of 'decorare', meaning "to adorn or embellish". this itself derives from 'decus', meaning "ornament, splendor, honor", a concept linked to propriety and beauty. the prefix 're-', of latin origin and one of the most productive in english, was attached to form 'redecorate', a 19th-century word that literally means "to decorate again". the term captures the cyclical nature of interior design, where spaces are refreshed and renewed to reflect changing tastes or to restore their aesthetic appeal.
Analysis
Structure: re (again) + decorate (make attractive)
re- is a prefix of Latin origin meaning "again" or "back". decorate is a verb of Latin origin, from the past participle stem of 'decorare' meaning "to adorn, embellish, beautify".
Examples
we plan to redecorate the living room next spring.
the hotel has been completely redecorated in a modern style.
after the flood, they had to redecorate the entire basement.