replay
UK[ˌriːˈpleɪ]US[ˈriːˌpleɪ]
v
To play again (e.g., a recording, a match, or a sequence of events).
n
An act or instance of playing something again, especially a recording or a key moment in a game.
Morpheme Breakdown
re
play
re
again
play
to perform, engage in activity
Etymology
The word "replay" is a transparent modern English compound, formed by directly combining the productive prefix "re-" with the verb "play". The prefix "re-", from Latin, was adopted into English through French and conveys the core sense of repetition or return to a previous state. The root "play" originates from Old English, carrying the fundamental meaning of engaging in activity or performance. When fused, the literal "play again" logically extends from repeating a game or performance to the modern technological senses of re-watching a recording or re-experiencing a sequence, perfectly illustrating how compounding creates new, intuitive meanings from established elements.
Analysis
Structure: re (again) + play (to perform, engage in activity)
re: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "again" or "back".
play: Old English origin (plegian, plegian), meaning "to exercise, engage in activity, perform".
Examples
The referee decided to replay the point after a disputed line call.
I watched the instant replay of the goal several times.
The tragic events of that day kept replaying in her mind.