repaint
UK[ˌriːˈpeɪnt]US[ˌriːˈpeɪnt]
v
To paint something again, especially to give it a new coat of paint.
Morpheme Breakdown
re
paint
re
again
paint
to apply paint
Etymology
The word 'repaint' is a straightforward combination of the Latin-derived prefix 're-' and the verb 'paint'. The prefix 're-', indicating repetition, was a productive element in Latin and remains highly active in English word formation. The base 'paint' entered English via Old French from the Latin verb 'pingere', which meant "to decorate, embellish, or represent by applying color". Therefore, the literal construction "to paint again" directly and logically yields the modern meaning of applying a new layer of paint to refresh or change the appearance of a surface.
Analysis
Structure: re (again) + paint (to apply paint)
- re: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "again" or "back".
- paint: From Old French 'peintier', ultimately from Latin 'pingere' meaning "to paint". It functions as the base verb.
Examples
We decided to repaint the kitchen walls a lighter shade of blue.
The old fence needs to be sanded down before you can repaint it properly.
The artist wasn't satisfied with the background and chose to repaint it entirely.