restart
UK[ˌriːˈstɑːt]US[ˌriːˈstɑːrt]
v
To begin something again after it has stopped.
n
An act of starting something again.
Morpheme Breakdown
re
start
re
again
start
begin
Etymology
The word 'restart' is a transparent modern English compound, formed by combining the productive Latin-derived prefix 're-' with the native Germanic verb 'start'. The prefix 're-', from Latin, has been extensively borrowed into English to indicate repetition or a return to a previous state. The verb 'start' originates from Old English styrtan, meaning "to leap up" or "to move suddenly," a sense which evolved to encompass the initiation of motion or action. Therefore, the literal construction "to start again" perfectly captures the modern abstract meaning of resuming an operation or process after an interruption. This combination exemplifies how English frequently builds new vocabulary by fusing classical affixes with common Germanic roots.
Analysis
Structure: re (again) + start (begin)
- re: A prefix of Latin origin, meaning "again" or "back". It functions as an intensifier or indicator of repetition.
- start: A verb of Germanic origin (from Old English styrtan, meaning "to leap up, jump up"). It functions as the core root, providing the primary sense of beginning an action or motion.
Examples
The technician had to restart the computer to install the updates.
After the rain delay, the players prepared for a restart of the match.
She decided to restart her novel from the beginning with a new outline.