A- (3) prefix meaning "not," from Gk a-, an- "not," from pie base *ne "not" (see un-)

recuse --- 1387, "to reject another's authority as prejudiced," from O.Fr. recuser (13c.), from L. recusare "to refuse, make an objection," from re- + causa (see cause). The word now is used mostly reflectively.

recycling --- 1926, from re- "back, again" + cycling (see cycle). Originally a technical term in oil-refining and similar industries; its broader consumer sense dates from 1960. Recyclable (adj.) is recorded from 1971.

red (1) --- O.E. read, from P.Gmc. *rauthaz (cf. O.N. rauðr, Dan. rød, O.Fris. rad, M.Du. root, Ger. rot, Goth. rauþs), from PIE base *reudh- (cf. L. ruber, also dial. rufus "light red," mostly of hair; Gk. erythros; Skt. rudhira-; Avestan raoidita-; O.C.S. rudru, Pol. rumiany, Rus. rumjanyj "flushed, red," of complexions, etc.; Lith. raudas; O.Ir. ruad, Welsh rhudd, Bret. ruz "red"). The only color for which a definite common PIE root word has been found. The surname Read/Reid retains the original O.E. long vowel pronunciation. The color as characteristic of "British possessions" on a map, is attested from 1916. The red flag was used as a symbol of defiance in battle on land or sea from 1602. To see red "get angry" is an Amer.Eng. expression first recorded 1900. Red light as a sign to stop is from 1849, long before traffic signals. As the sign of a brothel, it is attested from 1900. As a children's game (in ref. to the traffic light meaning) it is recorded from 1953. Red-letter day (c.1385) was originally a saint's day, marked on church calendars in red letters. Red ball signifying "express" in railroad jargon is 1927, from the red ball mounted on a pole as a controlling signal. Red-blooded "vigorous, spirited" is recorded from 1877. Red dog, type of U.S. football pass rush, is recorded from 1959. Red shift in spectography is first recorded 1923. Red carpet "sumptuous welcome" is from 1934, but the custom for dignitaries is described as far back as Aeschylus (e.g. "Agamemnon").

red (2) --- Bolshevik, 1917, from red (1), the color they adopted for themselves. Association in Europe of red with revolutionary politics (on notion of blood and violence) is from at least 1297, but got a boost 1793 with adoption of the red Phrygian cap (Fr. bonnet rouge) as symbol of the Fr. Revolution. First specific political reference in Eng. was 1848 (adj.), in news reports of the Second French Republic (a.k.a. Red Republic). The noun meaning "radical, communist" is from 1851.

red cent --- obsolete type of copper penny, first recorded 1839, Amer.Eng.

Red Cross --- c.1430, "national emblem of England" (St. George's Cross); in 17c., a red cross was the mark placed on the doors of London houses inflected with the plague. Red cross (in Muslim lands, red crescent) adopted as a symbol of ambulance service 1864 by the Geneva Conference.

red herring --- smoked herring c.1420 (they turn red when cured). Supposedly used by fugitives to put bloodhounds off the scent (1686), hence metaphoric sense (1884) of "something used to divert attention from the basic issue."

red ink --- financial losses, 1929, from the red ink traditionally used to indicate debits in accounts.

red tape --- excessive bureaucratic rigmarole, 1736, in allusion to the red tape formerly used in Great Britain (and the Amer. colonies) for binding up legal and other official documents.

red ware --- type of pottery, 1699, from red (1) + ware (n.).

redact --- 1432, from L. redact-, pp. stem of redigere "to bring back, collect, reduce," from re- "back, again" + agere "to drive" (see act).

redcap --- porter at a railroad station, 1919, Amer.Eng., from red (1) + cap.

redcoat --- British soldier, 1520, from red (1) + coat. Especially of Cromwellian troops in the English Civil War.

redd (v.) --- c.1425, "to clear" (a space, etc.), from O.E. hreddan "to save, to deliver, recover, rescue," from P.Gmc. *hradjan. Sense evolution tended to merge with unrelated rid. Also possibly infl. by O.E. rædan "to arrange," related to O.E. geræde, source of ready. A dialect word in Scotland and northern England, where it has had senses of "to fix" (boundaries), "to comb" (hair), "to separate" (combatants), "to settle" (a quarrel). The exception to the limited use is the meaning "to put in order, to make neat or trim" (1718), especially in redd up, which is in general use in England and the U.S. Use of the same phrase, in the same sense, in Pennsylvania Dutch may be from cognate Low Ger. and Du. redden, obviously connected historically to the Eng. word, "but the origin and relationship of the forms is no clear" [OED].

rede --- counsel, advice, O.E., see read.

redeem --- c.1425, from M.Fr. redemer (see redemption). Redeemer in the Christian sense (1432) replaced earlier redemptor.

redemption --- c.1340, "deliverance from sin," from L. redemptionem (nom. redemptio) "a buying back, releasing, ransoming," from redemptus, pp. of redimere "to redeem, buy back," from re- "back" + emere "to take, buy, gain, procure" (see exempt). The -d- is from the Old L. habit of using red- as the form of re- before vowels, and this is practically the sole Eng. word in which it survives. Redemptorist is from Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (founded Naples, 1732, by St. Alphonsus Liguori). In the Mercian hymns, L. redemptionem is glossed by O.E. alesnisse.

red-eye --- airplane flight which deprives travelers of sleep, 1968, from the red eyes of sleeplessness; earlier as a noun meaning "raw and inferior whiskey" (1819, Amer.Eng.).

red-handed --- 1819, earlier red-hand (1432), originally in Scottish legal writing, from red (1) + hand, presumably from the image of a murderer caught in the act, with blood on the hands.

redhead --- 1256, from red (1) + head (q.v.)

red-hot --- c.1375, "heated till it glows red" (of metal, etc.); of persons, "lively, passionate," it is recorded from 1608. Red-hot mama is 1926, jazz slang, "earthy female singer," also "girlfriend, lover."

redirect --- 1844, from re- "back, again" + direct.

redistribute --- 1611, from re- "back, again" + distribute (q.v.).

redistrict --- redraw the boundaries of districts, 1850, in U.S. political sense, from re- "again" + district (q.v.).

redline --- deny loans to certain neighborhoods based on ethnicity, 1973, on notion of lines drawn on maps. Used earlier in ref. to insurance company practices (1961) and in World War II military slang in ref. to a red line drawn through a soldier's name for some infraction, thus denying his pay.

redneck --- cracker, 1893; attested 1830 in more specialized sense ("This may be ascribed to the Red Necks, a name bestowed upon the Presbyterians in Fayetteville," from Ann Royall, "Southern Tour I," p.148). According to various theories, red perhaps from anger, or from pellagra, but most likely from mule farmers' outdoors labor in the sun, wearing a shirt and straw hat, with the neck exposed.

re-do --- 1597, from re- "back, again" + do (q.v.).

redolent --- c.1400, from O.Fr. redolent "emitting an odor," from L. redolentem, prp. of redolere "emit a scent," from re-, intensive prefix + olere "give off a smell" (see odor).

redouble --- c.1443, from M.Fr. redoubler, from O.Fr. re- "again" + doubler (see double).

redoubt --- 1608, from Fr. redoute, from It. ridotto "place of retreat," from M.L. reductus "place of refuge, retreat," from L. reduct-, pp. stem of reducere "to lead or bring back" (see reduce). The -b- was added by influence of unrelated Eng. doubt.

redoubtable --- c.1374, from O.Fr. redoutable (12c.), from redouter "to dread," from re-, intensive prefix + douter "be afraid of" (see doubt).

redound --- 1382, "to overflow," from O.Fr. redonder "overflow, abound" (12c.), from L. redundare "to overflow" (see redundant). Meaning "to flow or go back" (to a place or person) is from 1382; hence "to rebound" (c.1500), and "to contribute to" (the credit, honor, etc.), c.1500.

redox --- 1928, from red(uction) + ox(idation).

redress (v.) --- c.1366, from O.Fr. redrecier, from re- "again" + drecier "to straighten, arrange." Formerly used in many more senses than currently.

redshirt (v.) --- to withdraw (a player) from the varsity team to add a year to his or her eligibility, 1955, in allusion to the red shirts worn by athletes on the scrimmage squad.

redskin --- American Indian, 1699. Red as the skin color of Native Americans is from 1587; red man is from 1587.

reduce --- c.1375, "bring back," from O.Fr. reducer (14c.), from L. reducere, from re- "back" + ducere "bring, lead" (see duke). Sense of "to lower, diminish, lessen" is from 1787. Etymological sense preserved in military reduce to ranks (1641). Reduction is attested from 1483; reductionism in philosophy is recorded from 1948.

reductio ad absurdum --- 1741, from L., lit. "reduction to the absurd."

redundant --- 1594, from L. redundantem (nom. redundans), prp. of redundare "come back, contribute," lit. "overflow," from re- "again" + undare "rise in waves," from unda "a wave" (see water).

reduplicate --- 1570, from M.L. reduplicatus, pp. of reduplicare "to redouble," from re- "back, again" + L. duplicare "to double" (see duplicate).

redwood --- 1619, "wood that has a red hue," from red (1) + wood (q.v.). Of various types of New World trees that yield such wood, from 1716; specifically of the California Sequoia sempervirens from 1819.

reebok --- S.African antelope, 1775, from Du. form of roebuck (see roe (2)).

reed --- O.E. hreod "reed," from P.Gmc. *khreudom (cf. O.S. hraid, O.Fris. hriad, M.Du. ried, O.H.G. hriot, Ger. riet), no known cognates beyond Gmc. As part of the mouthpiece of a musical instrument it is attested from 1530. A reedy voice (1811) is so called from resemblance to musical sound of a reed.

reef (1) --- ridge underwater, 1584, probably via Du. riffe, from O.N. rif "ridge," lit. "rib" (see rib).

reef (2) --- horizontal section of sail, 1390, from O.N. rif "reef of a sail," probably a transferred use of rif "ridge, rib" (see tib). Cf. Ger. reff, Swed. ref, Norw. riv, Dan. reb, all from the O.N. word. Reefer as a nickname for "midshipman" (1818) is source of the meaning "coat of a nautical cut" (1878).

reefer --- marijuana cigarette, 1920s, perhaps an alteration of Mex.Sp. grifo "marijuana, drug addict;" or perhaps from reef (2), on resemblance to a rolled sail.

reek (n.) --- O.E. rec (Anglian), riec (W.Saxon), "smoke from burning material," probably from O.N. reykr (cf. Reykjavik, lit. "smoky bay"), from P.Gmc. *raukiz (cf. O.Fris. rek, M.Du. rooc, O.H.G. rouh, Ger. Rauch "smoke, steam"), apparently not found outside Gmc. Sense of "stench" is attested 1659, via the notion of "that which rises." The verb is from O.E. recan (Anglian), reocan (W.Saxon), from P.Gmc. *reukanan (cf. Ger. rauchen "to smoke," riechen "to smell"). Originally "to emit smoke;" meaning "to emit a bad smell" is recorded from 1710.

reel (n.1) --- frame turning on an axis, late O.E. hreol "reel for winding thread," from P.Gmc. *khrekhulaz; probably related to hrægel "garment," and O.N. hræll "spindle." Specifically of the fishing rod attachment from 1726; of a film projector apparatus from 1896. The verb meaning "to wind on a reel" is recorded from 1393, from the noun. To reel off "rattle off without pause or effort" is from 1837. Reel-to-reel type of tape deck is attested from 1961.

reel (n.2) --- lively Highland dance, 1585, probably a special use of the verb sense of reel (n.1). Applied to the music for such a dance from 1591.

reel (v.) --- to whirl around, c.1300, probably from reel (n.1), on notion of "spinning." Of the mind, from 1796.

re-elect --- 1601, from re- "back, again" + elect (v.); see election.

re-enact --- 1676, from re- "back, again" + enact (q.v.). Originally of laws, etc.; meaning "to perform again, reproduce" is recorded from 1854.

re-enforce --- c.1586, "to give fresh strength to," from re- "back, again" + enforce (q.v.). Originally of persons or military units; of buildings, structures, etc., attested from 1883.

re-enlist --- 1828, from re- "back, again" + enlist (q.v.).

re-entry --- 1439, "act of entering again," from re- "again" + entren, probably on model of M.Fr. rentrer (12c.). Specifically of spacecraft from 1948.

reet --- good, proper, excellent, 1934, jazz slang, from Amer.Eng. dial. pronunciation of right (adj.).

reeve --- steward, O.E. gerefa, of unknown origin and with no known cognates. Not connected to Ger. Graf (see margrave). An Anglo-Saxon official of high rank, having local jurisdiction under a king. Cf. sheriff.

refer --- c.1374, "to trace back, attribute, assign," from O.Fr. referer (14c.), from L. referre "to relate, refer," lit. "to carry back," from re- "back" + ferre "carry" (see infer). Meaning "to commit to some authority for a decision" is from 1456; sense of "to direct (someone) to a book, etc." is from 1601. Referral "act of referring" is first recorded 1934; specific sense of "an act of referring an individual to a specialist" is from 1955.

referee --- 1621, "person who examines patent applications" (see refer). Sporting use is first recorded 1840 (specifically of baseball from 1856; shortened form ref is from 1899); the verb is first attested 1889, from the noun.

reference --- 1589, "act of referring," from refer (q.v.). Meaning "direction to a book or passage" is recorded from 1612. Meaning "testimonial" is from 1895. The verb first is attested 1884. Reference book dates from 1889 (earlier book of reference, 1836). Phrase in reference to is attested from 1594. Referential is attested from 1660.

referendum --- 1847, "submitting a question to the voters as a whole" (originally chiefly in reference to Switzerland), from Fr. or Ger., from L. referendum "that which must be referred," lit. "thing brought back," from neut. gerundive of referre "to bring or take back" (see refer). As a gerundive, it has no plural in Latin; referendums is preferred in Eng.

refill (v.) --- 1687, from re- "back, again" + fill (v.). The noun is recorded from 1886; meaning "a second drink" is from 1929.

refinance --- 1908, from re- "again" + finance (v.).

refine --- 1582, of metals, 1588 of manners, from re-, intensive prefix + obs. fine (v.) "make fine," from fine (adj.) "delicate" (q.v.). Cf. Fr. raffiner, It. raffinare, Sp. refinar. General and fig. sense is recorded from 1596; of sugar, from 1613. Refinery in various senses is first recorded 1727. Refinement "act or process of refining" is from 1611; meaning "fineness of feeling" is from 1708.

refit --- 1666, from re- "again" + fit (v.). Originally nautical.

reflection --- c.1384, in reference to surfaces, from L.L. reflexionem (nom. reflexio) "a reflection," lit. "a bending back," from L. reflex-, pp. stem of reflectere, from re- "back" + flectere "to bend." Meaning "remark made after turning back one's thought on some subject" is from 1659. The verb reflect is recorded from 1412, originally "to turn aside;" meaning "to turn back" an image or light rays is from 1530; sense of "to turn one's thoughts (back) to" is first attested 1605.

reflex (n.) --- 1508, "reflection of light," from the verb meaning "refract, deflect" (c.1380), from L.L. reflexus "a bending back," prop. pp. of reflectere (see reflection). Meaning "involuntary nerve stimulation" first recorded 1877, from reflex action (1833). Reflexology as a psychological theory is attested from 1927 (from Ger. reflexologie, 1912); as a foot massage technique, first recorded 1976.

reflux (n.) --- c.1430, "a flowing back (of the sea, etc.)," from M.L. refluxus, from L. re- "back, again" + fluxus "a flowing" (see flux). Digestive sense is recorded from 1937.

reforest --- to restore toa wooded condition, 1881, from re- "back, again" + verb use of forest (n.).

reform (v.) --- c.1300, "to convert into another and better form," from O.Fr. reformer (12c.), from L. reformare "to form again, change, alter," from re- "again" + formare "to form." The noun is 1663, from the verb. Meaning "to bring (a person) away from an evil course of life" is recorded from 1413; of governments, institutions, etc., from 1432. Reformed churches (1588) usually are Calvinist as opposed to Lutheran. Reformed Judaism (1843) is a movement initiated in Germany by Moses Mendelssohn (1729-86). Reformatory "house of correction for juveniles" first recorded 1834. Reform school is attested from 1859.

reformation --- improvement, alteration for the better, c.1425, from L. reformationem, noun of action from reformare (see reform (v.)). In reference to the European religious movement, it is pre-1548, borrowed from Luther. The movement began as a bid to reform doctrines and practices of the Church of Rome.

refraction --- 1578, from L.L. refractionem (nom. refractio) "a breaking up," from L. refractus, pp. of refringere "to break up," from re- "back" + comb. form of frangere "to break" (see fraction). Refractory "stubborn, obstinate, perverse" is attested from 1613 (earlier refractorious, 1555), from L. refractarius "obstinate." Refrangible first recorded 1673.

refrain (n.) --- c.1374, from O.Fr. refrain, alteration of refrait, prop. pp. of refraindre "repeat," also "break off," from Prov. refranhar "singing of birds, refrain," from V.L. *refrangere "break off," alteration of L. refringere (see refraction). The notion is of something that causes a song to "break off" then resume. Not common before 19c.

refrain (v.) --- c.1300, from O.Fr. refraigner "restrain, repress" (12c.), from L. refrenare "bridle, hold in with a bit," from re- "back" + frenare "restrain, furnish with a bridle," from frenum "a bridle."

refresh --- c.1374, from O.Fr. refrescher (12c.; Fr. rafraîchir), from re- "again" + fresche "fresh" (Mod.Fr. frais), from a Gmc. source (cf. O.H.G. frisc "fresh," see fresh). Mental or spiritual sense of refreshing is attested from 1697. Refreshments "food or drink" first attested 1665.

refried beans --- 1957, transl. Sp. frijoles refritos.

refrigeration --- 1471, "act of cooling or freezing," from L. refrigerationem "mitigation of heat," especially in sickness, noun of action from refrigerare, from re- "again" + frigerare "make cool," from frigus (gen. frigoris) "cold." Specifically of "freezing provisions as a means of preserving them" from 1881. Refrigerator "cabinet for keeping food cool" is first recorded 1824, originally in the brewery trade, in place of earlier refrigeratory (1605).

reft --- 1847, pp. of reave, from O.E. reafian "to rob something from someone," from P.Gmc. *rauthojan (cf. O.Fris. raf, M.Du. roof, Ger. Raub). The ground sense seems to be that of "breaking."

refuel --- 1811, from re- "again" + fuel (v.). Originally in a spiritual sense.

refuge --- c.1386, from O.Fr. refuge, from L. refugium "a taking refuge, place to flee back to," from re- "back" + fugere "to flee" (see fugitive) + -ium "place for."

refugee --- 1685, from Fr. refugié, prop. pp. of refugier "to take shelter, protect," from O.Fr. refuge (see refuge). First applied to Fr. Huguenots who migrated after the revocation (1685) of the Edict of Nantes. The word meant "one seeking asylum," till 1914, when it evolved to mean "one fleeing home" (first applied in this sense to civilians in Flanders heading west to escape fighting in World War I).

refulgent --- 1509, from L. refulgentem (nom. refulgens), prp. of refulgere "flash back, shine brilliantly," from re- "back" + fulgere "to shine" (see phlegm).

refund (v.) --- to give back, restore, 1432 (earlier "to pour back," 1386), from O.Fr. refunder "restore," from L. refundere "give back, restore," lit. "pour back," from re- "back" + fundere "to pour" (see found (2)). Specifically of money from 1553. The noun is 1866, from the verb.

refurbish --- 1611, from re- "again" + furbish (q.v.), on model of Fr. refourbir.

refuse (n.) --- c.1374 (adj.), "outcast;" meaning "waste, trash" is from c.1440; from O.Fr. refus "waste product, rubbish," a back-formation from the pp. of refuser (see refuse (v.)).

refuse (v.) --- c.1300, from O.Fr. refuser (12c.), from V.L. *refusare, frequentative of pp. stem of L. refundere "pour back, give back" (see refund). Refusal first recorded 1474. Refusenik "Soviet Jew who has been refused permission to emigrate to Israel" (1975) is a partial transl. of Rus. otkaznik, from otkazat "to refuse."

refute --- 1513, "refuse, reject," from L. refutare "drive back, repress, repel, rebut," from re- "back" + -futare "to beat," probably from PIE base *bhat- "to strike down" (cf. beat). Meaning "prove wrong" dates from 1545. Since c.1964 linguists have frowned on the subtle shift in meaning towards "to deny," as it is used in connection with allegation.

regain --- c.1548, from M.Fr. regaigner, from re- "again" + gaginer, from O.Fr. gaaignier (see gain).

regal --- c.1330, from L. regalis "royal, kingly, belonging to a king," from rex (gen. regis) "king," from PIE base *reg- "move in a straight line," hence, "direct, rule, guide" (cf. Skt. raj- "a king, a leader;" Avestan razeyeiti "directs;" Pers. rahst "right, correct;" L. regere "to rule," rex "a king, a leader," rectus "right, correct;" O.Ir. ri, Gaelic righ "a king;" Gaul. -rix "a king," in personal names, e.g. Vircingetorix; Goth. reiks "a leader;" O.E. rice "kingdom," -ric "king," rice "rich, powerful," riht "correct;" Goth. raihts, O.H.G. recht, O.Swed. reht, O.N. rettr "correct").

regale --- 1656, from Fr. régaler "to entertain or feast," from O.Fr. rigale, from gale "merriment," from galer "make merry" (see gallant). Influenced in O.Fr. by se rigoler "amuse oneself, rejoice," of unknown origin. It. regalo is from Fr.

regalia --- 1540, "rights and powers of a king," from L. regalia "royal things," from neut. pl. of regalis (see regal). Meaning "decorations or insignia of an order" first recorded 1676.

regard (n.) --- 1340, from O.Fr. regard, from regarder "take notice of," from re-, intensive prefix + garder "look, heed" (cf. reward). Meanings "consideration, appearance, kindly feeling" all recorded late 14c. The verb is first attested c.1430, from M.Fr. regarder. Regardless "indifferent" is from 1591.

regatta --- 1652, name of a boat race among gondoliers held on the Grand Canal in Venice, from It. (Venetian dialect) regatta, lit. "contention for mastery," from regattare "to compete, haggle, sell at retail," possibly from recatare. The general meaning of "boat race, yacht race" is usually considered to have begun with a race on the Thames by that name June 23, 1775 (cf. OED), but there is evidence that it was used as early as 1768.

regency --- 1429, from M.L. regentia, from L. regens (see regent). Notable instances were: France 1715-23 (under Philip, Duke of Orleans), Britain 1810-20 (under George, Prince of Wales, Prince Regent), "in each case with suggestion of debauchery" [Weekley]. In ref. to the style of that time, attested from 1880 (there is an unexplained use in Jane Austen from 1793). Cf. Fr. equivalent Régence, attested in Eng. from 1919. U.S. Albany Regency refers to dominant political faction in New York state c.1820-1850.

regeneration --- c.1300, from L.L. regenerationem (nom. regeneratio) "a being born again," from L. regeneratus, pp. of regenerare "make over, generate again," from re- "again" + generare "to produce" (see generation). Specifically of animal tissue, 1541; of forests, 1888.

regent (n.) --- c.1412, from adj. (1387), from O.Fr. regent, from M.L. regentem (nom. regens), from L. regens "ruler, governor," also prp. of regere "to rule, direct" (see regal). Senses of "university faculty member" is attested from 1522, originally Scottish.

reggae --- 1968, Jamaican Eng. (first in song title "Do the Reggay" by Toots & the Maytals), perhaps related to rege-rege "a quarrel, protest," lit. "ragged clothes," variant of raga-raga, alteration and reduplication of Eng. rag.

regicide --- 1548, formed from L. rex (gen. regis) "king" on model of suicide (q.v.).