renewables
UK[rɪˈnjuːəbl̩z]US[rɪˈnuːəbl̩z]
n
sources of energy that are not depleted when used, such as wind, solar, or hydroelectric power.
n
(as a singular 'renewable') a natural resource or source of energy that is not depleted by use.
Morpheme Breakdown
re
new
ables
re
again
new
recently created
ables
capable things
Etymology
the term originates from the adjective 'renewable', which itself is built from the verb 'renew'. 'renew' entered middle english from old french 'renoveler', based on latin 'renovare' (from 're-' meaning "again" and 'novare' meaning "to make new", from 'novus' for "new"). the core concept is the capacity to be made new or replenished naturally after use. by adding the '-able' suffix, it forms an adjective describing resources capable of natural restoration. the plural noun 'renewables' is a modern lexical shortening of the phrase "renewable energy sources," where the adjective is substantivized to collectively represent the category of such sustainable resources.
Analysis
Structure: re (again) + new (recently created) + ables (capable things)
're-' is a latin prefix meaning "again". 'new' is from old english 'neowe', 'niwe', meaning "recently made or created". '-able' is a latin-derived suffix forming adjectives meaning "capable of, fit for". the final '-s' is the old english plural suffix for nouns.
Examples
the government is investing heavily in renewables like solar and wind power.
many countries have set ambitious targets for increasing the share of renewables in their energy mix.
the cost of renewables has fallen dramatically, making them competitive with fossil fuels.