reposition
UK[ˌriːpəˈzɪʃn]US[ˌriːpəˈzɪʃn]
v
to change the way that something is positioned or the place where it is located
v
to change the way that people think of something, especially in order to give it a different public image
Morpheme Breakdown
re
position
re
again
position
place
Etymology
the word "reposition" is a modern english formation built upon classical latin elements. the prefix "re-", meaning "again" or "back", is one of the most productive prefixes in english, attached to verbs to indicate repetition or reversal. the core noun "position" originates from latin ponere, "to put or place", which itself has deep proto-indo-european roots in the stem apo- (off, away). the literal combination, "to place again", directly informs its modern meanings. these evolved from the physical act of moving an object to a new location to the more abstract marketing sense of altering a product's or idea's perceived place in the public mind.
Analysis
Structure: re (again) + position (place)
- re: from latin, a prefix meaning "again" or "back".
- position: from latin positionem (nominative positio) meaning "a placing, setting", from the past participle stem of ponere "to put, place".
Examples
the company decided to reposition the factory closer to its main suppliers.
the campaign aimed to reposition the candidate as a champion for economic reform.
surgeons had to reposition the bone fragment during the operation.