remarry
UK[ˌriːˈmæri]US[ˌriˈmɛri]
v
To marry again, especially after the death of a spouse or a divorce.
Morpheme Breakdown
re
marry
re
again
marry
to wed
Etymology
The word "remarry" is a transparent compound formed within English. The core verb "marry" entered English from Old French marier, which itself derives from Latin marītāre, meaning "to wed," a verb formed from marītus (husband). The prefix "re-," of Latin origin and carrying the fundamental sense of "again," was attached to the verb in Middle English to create a new term specifying the action of marrying for a second or subsequent time. This construction follows a common pattern in English where Latin-derived prefixes are systematically combined with verbs of various origins to denote repetition, perfectly illustrating the language's capacity for logical and productive word formation.
Analysis
Structure: re (again) + marry (to wed)
- re: A prefix of Latin origin, meaning "again" or "back." In this word, it functions as an intensifier indicating repetition.
- marry: A verb of Latin origin (via Old French marier), from Latin marītāre meaning "to wed" or "to give in marriage." It functions as the core lexical root.
Examples
After several years as a widow, she decided to remarry.
The law required a waiting period before the divorced couple could legally remarry.
He did not expect to find love and remarry so late in life.