repot
UK[ˌriːˈpɒt]US[ˌriːˈpɑːt]
v
To transfer a plant into a new, usually larger, pot.
Morpheme Breakdown
re
pot
re
again
pot
container
Etymology
The word 'repot' is a modern English compound formed by combining the Latin-derived prefix 're-' with the native English noun 'pot'. The prefix 're-', from Latin, carries the core sense of repetition or restoration, a function it has maintained since its Proto-Indo-European root wret-. The noun 'pot' has a long history in Germanic languages, likely borrowed early from Late Latin 'pottus', meaning a drinking vessel, and became the standard term for an earthenware container. The logical construction of the verb is perfectly transparent: to 'pot' means to place in a pot, so to 'repot' literally means to 'pot again', describing the horticultural practice of moving a plant to a fresh container to support its continued growth.
Analysis
Structure: re (again) + pot (container)
- re: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "again" or "back".
- pot: Old English origin, from the word for a container, vessel, or drinking cup.
Examples
It's time to repot the orchid before its roots become too cramped.
She carefully repotted the seedling into a larger container with fresh soil.
Most houseplants need to be repotted every one to two years.