What do a rebel, a reconnaissance plane, a refrigerator have in common?

By Ranjana S.

The Latin prefix re- means "back; again, thoroughly."

Rebel is formed from the prefix re-meaning "again" and the Latin root bel-meaning "to make war." The verb rebel literally means "to make war again; resume fighting." Hence, to rebel is (1) to rise in resistance against the established government of one's country; (2) to resist or disobey any authority; (3) to react with strong opposition or disapproval. 

• The army rebelled against the dictator.
• Amanda rebelled against her parents' way of life.
• The students rebels demanded an end to the examination system.
• Recall derives from re-meaning "back" and the worse call. Thus, recall means (1) to call back; order to return or be returned; (2) to take back;to revoke (3) to call back to mind;remember.
• The retired General was recalled to duty.
• The manufacturer recalled the defective cars.
• Can you recall the date of Gandhiji's birth?

Refresh is formed from re- meaning "again" and the word fresh. Thus, refresh means (1) to make fresh or vigorous again;revive; (2) to stimulate, as the memory.

• He refreshed himself with a short nap.
• The old snapshots refreshed Sandra's memory of her school days.

Refrigerator is made up of re-meaning "thoroughly" and the Latin root frigerat-meaning "to cool." Thus, refrigerate means "to make or keep thoroughly cool."

• Refrigerate the milk or else it would get spoiled.

Some other re-words:

1. Rebuff (1) to reject or refuse abruptly or rudely;snub; (2) an abrupt or rude rejection, denial, or defeat.
2. Recalcitrant- defying or resisting a request or command; obstinate, stubborn; rebellious( literally, kicking back at a request).
3. Reconnaissance (1) a preliminary survey or examination, as of an area of a country, for information; (2) the act of obtaining information of military value, especially regarding the position, strength, and movement of the enemy.
4. Reconnoiter- to survey or examine, as for military, engineering, or geological purposes.
5. Recoup- to get something back; recover or make up, as a loss.
6. Recriminate- to accuse in return; meet one accusation by making another.
7. Recuperate-to get back one's health or strength.
8. Reiterate-to say or do again and again, as for emphasis.
9. Relapse-(1) to lapse back, as into a disease, after a partial recovery; (2) aa lapsing back.
10. Relegate-(1) to send back or off, as to a less important person, position, or place; (2) to assign to a certain category.
11. Relinquish-to give up or leave behind; abandon.
12. Reminiscence-(1) the calling to mind of past events; (2) the telling of past experiences.
13. Reprieve-(1) to delay temporarily the execution of a sentence upon a condemned person (literally, "taken back"); (2) to relieve for a time from trouble, danger, or pain; (3) the temporary suspension of a sentence; especially, the commutation of a death sentence; (4) temporary relief or a respite.
14. Rescind-to take back; make void; repeal.
15. Revile-to attack with contemptuous language; to abuse.
16. Reverberate-to echo or resound.
17. Redress- to make amends for.
18. Remiss-careless.
19. Repletion-a state of complete or excessive fullness.
20. Retrenchment- a cutting down of expenses.
21. Recompense-to pay back.