rename
UK[ˌriːˈneɪm]US[ˌriːˈneɪm]
v
To give a new name to someone or something.
Morpheme Breakdown
re
name
re
again
name
to give a name
Etymology
The word 'rename' is a transparent compound formed within English. The prefix 're-', from Latin, carries its core sense of "again", indicating repetition. It is attached to the verb 'name', which descends from Old English 'namian', itself from the Proto-Germanic noun for "name". The combination is purely logical and modern, directly signifying the action of naming something once more or giving it a different name. There is no complex semantic evolution; the meaning is constructed literally from its components.
Analysis
Structure: re (again) + name (to give a name)
- re: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "again" or "back".
- name: Old English origin (nama/noma), from Proto-Germanic namô, functioning as the core verb meaning "to give a name to".
Examples
They decided to rename the company to better reflect its new mission.
You can rename the file by right-clicking on it and selecting the option.
After the scandal, the city council voted to rename the street.