relearn
UK[ˌriːˈlɜːn]US[ˌriːˈlɜːrn]
v
To learn something again, especially something you have forgotten or that has changed.
Morpheme Breakdown
re
learn
re
again
learn
acquire knowledge
Etymology
The verb 'relearn' is a modern English compound formed by attaching the Latin-derived prefix 're-' to the native English verb 'learn'. The prefix 're-', meaning "again", entered English via Old French from Latin, where it functioned as an intensive or repetitive particle. The core verb 'learn' stems from the Old English 'leornian', which carries the fundamental sense of gaining knowledge or understanding. The combination is perfectly transparent and logical: to 'learn' once more, reflecting the process of acquiring knowledge a second time, whether due to forgetting, updating information, or mastering a skill from a new perspective.
Analysis
Structure: re (again) + learn (acquire knowledge)
re: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "again" or "back".
learn: Old English origin, from the verb 'leornian', meaning "to acquire knowledge or skill".
Examples
After the software update, I had to relearn how to navigate the new interface.
He is rehabilitating from the injury and must relearn how to walk.
The study suggests that we sometimes need to relearn basic historical facts.