rewritable
UK[riːˈraɪtəbl̩]US[riːˈraɪtəbl̩]
adj
(of a storage medium or device) able to have new data recorded on it after previous data has been erased.
Morpheme Breakdown
re
writ
able
re
again
writ
write
able
capable of
Etymology
The word "rewritable" is a modern English formation built upon the foundational verb "write," which originates from the Proto-Germanic wrītaną, meaning "to tear, scratch, or carve." This reflects the ancient method of inscribing on surfaces. The Latin prefix "re-," signifying repetition, was later attached to create the verb "rewrite," meaning to write again. Finally, the productive adjectival suffix "-able," from Latin '-abilis' via French, was appended to denote the capability of a digital medium to undergo this repeated process of writing and erasure, a concept that emerged with late 20th-century computer technology.
Analysis
Structure: re (again) + writ (write) + able (capable of)
- re: A prefix of Latin origin, meaning "again" or "back." In this word, it functions as an intensifier indicating repetition.
- writ: A verb root derived from Old English 'wrītan', meaning "to score, outline, or write." It serves as the core lexical element.
- able: A suffix of Latin origin (via Old French '-able'), meaning "capable of, fit for, or worthy of." It forms adjectives from verbs.
Examples
The data was stored on a rewritable CD.
This is a rewritable optical disc, so you can update the files multiple times.
Ensure the drive supports rewritable media before purchasing the disks.