resale
UK[ˌriːˈseɪl]US[ˈriːˌseɪl]
n
The sale of something that one has bought to another person.
Morpheme Breakdown
re
sale
re
again
sale
act of selling
Etymology
The word 'resale' is a transparent compound formed within English from the prefix 're-' and the noun 'sale'. The prefix 're-', derived from Latin, carries its core meaning of "again" or "back," indicating repetition. The root 'sale' originates from Old English 'sala', related to the act of handing over something for money. Therefore, the literal construction "selling again" perfectly captures the modern commercial meaning: the subsequent sale of an item by its purchaser to a new buyer. This logical formation exemplifies how English readily creates precise terminology by combining native and borrowed morphological elements.
Analysis
Structure: re (again) + sale (act of selling)
re: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "again" or "back".
sale: Old English origin (sala), from a Germanic root, meaning "the act of selling".
Examples
The contract prohibits the resale of the tickets at a higher price.
He bought the car for investment, hoping for a quick resale.
The artist retains the right to a percentage of any future resale of her work.