redevelop
UK[ˌriːdɪˈveləp]US[ˌriːdɪˈveləp]
v
To develop an area or building again, especially to improve it by making major changes.
v
To develop something again or in a new form.
Morpheme Breakdown
re
develop
re
again
develop
build up
Etymology
The word "redevelop" is a modern English compound formed by attaching the Latin prefix "re-" to the existing verb "develop." The core concept of "develop" carries the historical sense of "unfolding" or "unwrapping" a potential, which evolved into the modern meaning of causing growth or improvement. By adding the prefix "re-," which has consistently denoted repetition or return since its Proto-Indo-European root wret-, the word specifically conveys the action of initiating this process of growth or improvement anew, typically on a site or project that had been developed before. Thus, the literal logic of "building up again" perfectly captures its application in urban planning and business.
Analysis
Structure: re (again) + develop (build up)
re: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "again" or "back."
develop: From French développer, ultimately from Latin dis- (apart) + voloper (to wrap). In this compound, it functions as the base verb meaning "to build up, grow, or bring to a more advanced state."
Examples
The city council plans to redevelop the old industrial docklands into a residential and commercial district.
After the software failed, the team had to redevelop the entire application from scratch.
The company secured funding to redevelop its flagship product for the new market.