rejoin
UK[ˌriːˈdʒɔɪn]US[ˌriːˈdʒɔɪn, rɪˈdʒɔɪn]
v
To join together again; to reunite.
v
To say something in reply, especially in a sharp or witty way.
Morpheme Breakdown
re
join
re
again
join
connect
Etymology
The word 'rejoin' is a composite of two distinct Latin-derived elements. The prefix 're-' is a prolific Indo-European particle signifying repetition or return. The core verb 'join' originates from the Latin iungere, meaning to yoke or bind together, which passed into English through Old French. When combined, the literal meaning "to join again" is transparent. A fascinating semantic split occurred: one sense retained this literal meaning of physical reconnection, while the other evolved in legal and formal discourse to mean "to answer a charge or reply," essentially "to join words back in a debate." This second, more abstract sense of verbal rejoinder highlights how the concept of reconnection was metaphorically applied to the flow of argument.
Analysis
Structure: re (again) + join (connect)
re: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "again" or "back."
join: Latin origin (from iungere, via Old French joindre), meaning "to connect" or "to unite."
Examples
The two sections of the pipe were cleaned and rejoined securely.
"That's not what I meant at all," she rejoined quickly.
After a brief separation, the hiking group decided to rejoin at the trailhead.