rekindling
UK[ˌriːˈkɪndlɪŋ]US[ˌriːˈkɪndlɪŋ]
v
The act of making something such as a feeling, interest, or activity become active or strong again.
n
An instance of something being revived or reawakened.
Morpheme Breakdown
re
kindl
ing
re
again
kindl
to set fire
ing
verb suffix/gerund
Etymology
The word 'rekindling' is built upon the verb 'kindle,' which traces back to Old Norse 'kynda' (to kindle) and is related to Old English 'cyndel' (torch). The core Germanic root carries the literal sense of igniting a fire. The Latin prefix 're-' was later attached to this base, a common pattern in English to indicate repetition or restoration. Thus, the word's literal construction means "to set on fire again." Over time, this vivid physical metaphor was extended to abstract domains, such as emotions, memories, or interests, to describe the process of reviving or reawakening something that had faded. The '-ing' suffix adapts it to function as a verbal noun, naming the action or its result.
Analysis
Structure: re (again) + kindl (to set fire) + ing (verb suffix/gerund)
re: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "again" or "back."
kindl: From the English verb 'kindle,' of Germanic origin, meaning "to set fire to" or "to ignite."
ing: A suffix of Old English origin, used to form the present participle or gerund of verbs.
Examples
The long conversation was instrumental in rekindling their old friendship.
There is a rekindling of interest in traditional crafts among young people.
The trip to his hometown sparked a rekindling of childhood memories.