revitalize
UK[ˌriːˈvaɪ.tə.laɪz]US[ˌriːˈvaɪ.t̬əl.aɪz]
v
To give new life, energy, or strength to something; to make something active, healthy, or successful again.
Morpheme Breakdown
re
vital
ize
re
again
vital
life
ize
verb suffix
Etymology
The word revitalize is a modern English formation, constructed from classical elements to express a specific concept. Its core, vital, traces back to the Latin vita, meaning "life," which itself originates from the Proto-Indo-European root gʷei̯h₃- meaning "to live." The prefix re-, meaning "again," is a prolific Latin element. The suffix -ize, borrowed from Greek -izein, is a productive verb-forming element meaning "to render or make." Therefore, the literal construction "to make live again" perfectly captures the modern abstract meaning of restoring vitality, energy, or activity to something that has declined.
Analysis
Structure: re (again) + vital (life) + ize (verb suffix)
re: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "again" or "back."
vital: From Latin vitalis (of or pertaining to life), derived from vita (life). It functions as the core root conveying the sense of "life."
ize: A verb-forming suffix of Greek origin (via Latin and French), meaning "to make" or "to become."
Examples
The city council has a plan to revitalize the old downtown area.
A good night's sleep can revitalize your mind and body.
The new investment aims to revitalize the struggling industry.