replace
UK[rɪˈpleɪs]US[rɪˈpleɪs]
v
to take the place of something or someone else
v
to put something back in its correct place
Morpheme Breakdown
re
place
re
again
place
to put
Etymology
The verb 'replace' is a compound formed in English from the Latin-derived prefix 're-' and the verb 'place'. The prefix 're-' carries the core sense of "back" or "again," while 'place' originates from the Latin platea, referring to a broad street or open area, which evolved in French and English to denote a specific location and the act of setting something in position. The literal morphemic logic of "to put back" is directly preserved in one modern meaning, referring to restoring an item to its original location. Over time, the sense of "putting again" extended metaphorically to signify substituting one thing for another, thereby taking its place, which is now the word's primary meaning.
Analysis
Structure: re (again) + place (to put)
- re: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "again" or "back".
- place: From Old French place (open space, location), from Latin platea (broad street, courtyard), from Greek plateia (broad way). In this word, it functions as a verb meaning "to put" or "to set".
Examples
The company decided to replace all the old computers with new models.
Please replace the book on the shelf when you have finished reading it.
He was replaced as team captain after a series of poor results.