rewind
UK[ˌriːˈwaɪnd]US[ˌriːˈwaɪnd]
v
To make a recording go backwards.
v
To wind something, especially a mechanism, back to its starting position.
Morpheme Breakdown
re
wind
re
again
wind
to turn
Etymology
The word 'rewind' is a modern compound formed from the Old English verb 'windan', which meant to twist, turn, or coil. This ancient root, with Proto-Indo-European connections to words for plaiting or bending, evolved to describe the turning action of mechanisms like clocks and, later, tape reels. The Latin prefix 're-', meaning "again" or "back", was attached in English to specifically denote the action of winding something back to its starting point. Thus, the literal logic of "to wind again/back" perfectly captures the modern action of reversing a recording or resetting a spring.
Analysis
Structure: re (again) + wind (to turn)
- re: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "again" or "back".
- wind: Old English origin, a verb meaning "to turn", "to twist", or "to coil".
Examples
Please rewind the tape to the beginning of the song.
After watching the scene, he had to rewind the film to see it again.
You must rewind the garden hose onto the reel after use.