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

regime --- system of government or rule, 1792, from Fr. régime, from L. regimen "rule, guidance, government," from regere (see regal). In Fr., l'ancien régime refers to the system of government before the revolution of 1789.

regimen --- 1456, "act of governing," from O.Fr. regimen (14c.), from L. regimen "rule, guidance, government," from regere "to rule" (see regal). Medical sense of "course of diet, exercise, etc. for sake of health" first recorded c.1475.

regiment (n.) --- 1390, "government, rule, control," from O.Fr. regiment "government, rule" (1314), from L.L. regimentum "rule, direction," from L. regimen (see regimen). Meaning "unit of an army" first recorded 1579 (originally the reference was to permanent organization and discipline), from French. The verb, with sense of "to form into a regiment" is first recorded 1617. Regimentation first recorded 1877. Regimentals "dress proper to a particular regiment, militaty uniform" is attested from 1742.

Regina --- fem. proper name, from L., lit. "queen;" related to rex (gen. regis) "king" (see regal). Cf. Skt. rajni "queen," Welsh rhyain "maiden, virgin."

Reginald --- masc. proper name, from O.H.G. Reginald, lit. "ruling with power" (see Reynard).

region --- c.1330, from Anglo-Fr. regioun, O.Fr. region, from L. regionem (nom. regio) "direction, boundary, district, country," from regere "to direct, rule" (see regal).

register (n.) --- 1377, from M.L. registrum, alteration of L.L. regesta "list, matters recorded," from L. regesta, neuter pl. of regestus, pp. of regerere "to record," lit. "to carry back," from re- "back" + gerere "carry, bear." Some senses influenced by association with L. regere "to rule." The verb is attested from 1390, from O.Fr. registrer (13c.). Cash register is from 1875, from earlier meaning "device by which data is automatically recorded" (1830).

registrar --- 1675, shortening of registrary (c.1541), from M.L. registrarius "one who keeps a record" (related to register).

regress --- c.1375 (n.), "act of going back," from L. regressus "a return," from regress-, pp. stem of regredi "to go back," from re- "back" + gradi "to step, walk" (see grade). The verb meaning "to move backward" is recorded from 1823; the psychological sense of "to return to an earlier stage of life" is attested from 1926. Regressive is recorded from 1634; in ref. to taxation, it is attested from 1889.

regret (v.) --- to remember with distress or longing, c.1300, from O.Fr. regreter "long after, bewail, lament someone's death," from re-, intensive prefix + -greter, possibly from Frankish (cf. O.E. grætan "to weep;" O.N. grata "to weep, groan"), from P.Gmc. *gretan "weep." Replaced O.E. ofþyncan, from of- "off, away," here denoting opposition + þyncan "seem, seem fit" (as in methinks). The noun is first recorded 1533. Regretfully incorrectly in place of regrettably is attested from 1976.

regroup (v.) --- 1885, from re- "again" + group (v.).

regular --- 1387, from O.Fr. reguler, from L.L. regularis "continuing rules for guidance," from L. regula "rule," from PIE *reg- "move in a straight line" (see regent). Earliest sense was of religious orders (the opposite of secular). Extended 16c. to shapes, etc., that followed predictable or uniform patterns; sense of "normal" is from 1638; meaning "real, genuine" is from 1821. Meaning "a regular customer" is recorded from 1852.

regulate --- c.1630, from L.L. regulatus, pp. of regulare "to control by rule, direct" (5c.), from L. regula "rule" (see regular). Regulation is first recorded 1672, "act of regulating;" sense of "rule for management" is first attested 1715. Regulator is first recorded 1655; in Eng. history, with a capital R-, "member of a commission appointed in 1687 to manage county elections." In U.S. history, applied to local posses that kept order (or disturbed it) in rural regions c.1767-71. Meaning "clock by which other timepieces are set" is attested from 1758.

Regulus --- bright star in constellation Leo, 1559, from L., lit. "little king," dim. of rex "king." But Klein says this may be a corruption of the Arabic name, rijil (al-asad) "paw (of the lion)," from rijil "foot, paw."

regurgitation --- 1601, from M.L. regurgitationem, noun of action from regurgitare "to overflow," from L.L. re- "back" + gurgitare "engulf, flood" (found in L. ingurgitare "to pour in"), from gurges "whirlpool, gorge, abyss." Meaning "to vomit" first attested 1753.

rehabilitation --- 1533, from M.Fr. réhabilitation, from M.L. rehabilitationem "restoration," from rehabilitatus, pp. of rehabilitare, from re- "again" + habitare "make fit," from L. habilis "easily managed, fit." Specifically of criminals, addicts, etc., from 1940. Slang shortening rehab is from 1948. The verb rehabilitate is attested from 1580.

rehash (v.) --- 1822, from re- "again" + hash (v.). The noun is first attested 1849.

rehearse --- c.1300, "to give an account of," from Anglo-Fr. rehearser, O.Fr. rehercier "to go over again, repeat," lit. "to rake over," from re- "again" + hercier "to rake, harrow" (see hearse). Meaning "to say over again" is from 1340; sense of "practice a play, part, etc." is from 1579. Rehearsal dinner first attested 1953.

reheat (v.) --- 1727, from re- "again" + heat (v.).

Rehoboth --- Heb. Rehobhoth, lit. "wide places" (Gen. xxvi.22).

Reichstag --- German imperial parliament (1871-1918), earlier used of the parliament of the North German Confederacy, 1867, from Ger. Reich "empire, kingdom" (from O.H.G. rihhi, related to O.E. rice, from P.Gmc. *rikja "rule") + Tag "assembly," lit. "day" (see day).

reification --- 1846, "act of materializing," from L. re-, stem of res "thing." In Marxist jargon, translating Ger. Verdinglichung.

reign (n.) --- c.1225, "kingdom," from O.Fr. reigne, from L. regnum "kingship, dominion, rule, realm," related to regere (see regal). Meaning "period of rule" first recorded c.1330. The verb, meaning "to hold or exercise sovereign power," is attested from c.1280, from O.Fr. regner, from L. regnare, from regnum.

reimburse --- 1611, from re- "back" + imburse "to pay, enrich," lit. "put in a purse" (c.1530), from M.Fr. embourser, from O.Fr. em- "in" + borser "to get money," from borse "purse," from M.L. bursa (see purse).

rein (n.) --- c.1300, "strap fastened to a bridle," from O.Fr. rene, probably from V.L. *retina "a bond, check," back-formation from L. retinere "hold back" (see retain). The verb is c.1300, from the noun. Figurative extension "put a check on" first recorded 1588.

reincarnation --- 1858, from re- "back, again" + incarnation (q.v.). The verb reincarnate also is attested from 1858.

reindeer --- c.1400, from O.N. hreindyri "reindeer," from dyr "animal" (see deer) + hreinn, the usual name for the animal, from P.Gmc. *khrainaz (cf. O.E. hran "reindeer," Ger. Renn). Probably cognate with Gk. krios "ram," but folk-etymology associates it with rennen "to run."

reinforce --- 1600, originally in military sense, from re- "again" + enforce (cf. re-enforce).

reissue (v.) --- 1618, from re- "back, again" + issue (q.v.). The noun is attested from 1805.

reiterate --- 1526, from L. reiteratus, pp. of reiterare "to repeat," from re- "again" + iterare "to repeat," from iterum "again."

reject --- c.1415, from L. rejectus, pp. of reicere "to throw back," from re- "back" + -icere, comb. form of jacere "to throw" (see jet (v.)). The noun is first recorded 1555; rare before 20c. Rejection in the psychological sense, relating to parenting, is recorded from 1931.

rejoice --- c.1303, "to enjoy the possession of," from O.Fr. rejoiss-, stem of rejoissant, prp. of rejoir "gladden, rejoice," from re-, intensive prefix + joir "be glad," from L. gaudere "rejoice" (see joy). Originally sense in to rejoice in. Meaning "to be full of joy" is recorded from c.1374.

rejoin (1) --- join again, 1541, from re- "again" + join (q.v.).

rejoin (2) --- to answer, 1447, legal term, from M.Fr. rejoin-, stem of rejoindre "to answer to a legal charge," from O.Fr. re- "back" + joindre "to join" (see join). General (non-legal) meaning first recorded 1637. Rejoinder is 1450, from M.Fr. rejoindre; originally "defendant's answer to the replication."

rejuvenate --- 1807, from re- "again" + L. juvenis (see young). Noun rejuvensecence "renewal of youth" is first recorded 1631.

rekindle --- 1593, from re- "back, again" + kindle (q.v.).

relapse (v.) --- 1568, from L. relapsus, pp. of relabi "slip back," from re- "back" + labi "to slip" (see lapse). The noun is first attested 1533.

relate --- 1530, "to recount, tell," from L. relatus, used as pp. of referre (see refer), from re- "back, again" + latus (see oblate (n.)). Meaning "to establish a relation between" is from 1771. Sense of "to feel connected or sympathetic to" is attested from 1950, originally in psychology jargon. Related in the sense of "connected by blood or marriage" is from 1702.

relation --- 1390, from Anglo-Fr. relacioun, O.Fr. relacion (14c.), from L. relationem (nom. relatio) "a bringing back, restoring," from relatus (see relate). Meaning "person related by blood or marriage" first attested 1502. Relationship "sense of being related" is from 1744; meaning "an affair, a romantic or sexual relationship" is attested from 1944. Stand-alone phrase no relation "not in the same family" is attested by 1930.

relative (n.) --- 1388, "a relative pronoun," from O.Fr. relatif (13c.), from L.L. relativus "having reference or relation," from L. relatus, pp. of referre "to refer." Meaning "person in the same family" first recorded 1657; the adj. is attested from 1530. Relatively "in relation to something else" is recorded from 1561. Relativism in philosophy first recorded 1865 (relativist is from 1863).

relativity --- 1834, "fact or condition of being relative," from relative (adj.) (see relative (n.)); first attested in Coleridge. In scientific use, connected to the theory of Albert Einstein (1879-1955), published 1905 (special theory of relativity) and 1915 (general theory of relativity), but the word was used in roughly this sense by J.C. Maxwell in 1876.

relax --- c.1420, "to make (something) less compact or dense," from O.Fr. relaxer (14c.), from L. relaxare "relax, loosen, open," from re- "back" + laxare "loosen," from laxus "loose" (see lax). Of persons, attested from 1837, "to become less formal;" meaning "to become less tense" is recorded from 1935. Relaxation "relief from work" first recorded 1548.

relay (n.) --- c.1410, "hounds placed along a line of chase," from M.Fr. relai "reserve pack of hounds or other animals" (13c.), from O.Fr. relaier "to exchange tired animals for fresh," lit. "leave behind," from re- "back" + laier "to leave" (see delay). The etymological sense is "to leave (dogs) behind (in order to take fresh ones)." Of horses, 1659. Electromagnetic sense first recorded 1860. As a type of foot-race, it is attested from 1898. The verb is first attested c.1410.

release (v.) --- 1297, "to withdraw, revoke," also "to liberate" (c.1300), from O.Fr. relaisser "to relinquish, quit, let go, leave behind," variant of relacher "release, relax," from L. relaxare (see relax). Meaning "relinquish, surrender" is recorded from 1390. Of press reports, attested from 1904; of motion pictures, from 1912; of music recordings, from 1962. As a euphemism for "to dismiss, fire from a job" it is attested in Amer.Eng. since 1904. The noun is attested from c.1315, from O.Fr. reles (12c.), a back-formation from relesser, relaisser.

relegate --- 1586 "to banish, send into exile" (implied in relegation), from L. relegatus, pp. of relegare "remove, dismiss, banish," from re- "back" + legare "send with a commission" (see legate). Meaning "place in a position of inferiority" is recorded from 1790.

relent --- c.1386, "to melt, soften, dissolve," from re-, intensive prefix + L. lentus "slow, viscous, supple" (see lithe). Sense of "become less harsh or cruel" first recorded 1526. The notion is probably of a hard heart melting with pity. Relentless is from 1592.

relevant --- pertinent to the matter at hand, 1560, from M.L. relevantem (1481), prp. of L. relevare "to lessen, lighten" (see relieve). Originally a Scottish legal term meaning "take up, take possession of property;" not generally used until after 1800. Relevance is from 1733 (relevancy in the same sense is recorded from 1561).

reliable --- 1569, raliabill, Scottish, from rely + -able. Not common before 1850; and execrated thereafter in Britain as an Americanism.

reliance --- 1607, from rely (q.v.) + -ance. The adj. reliant is attested from 1856. Since it means "dependent (on)" it would seem an odd name for an automobile, but Chrysler (Plymouth) nonetheless chose it as one in 1981.

relic --- c.1225, "body part or other object from a holy person," from O.Fr. relique (11c.), from L.L. reliquiæ (pl.) "remains of a martyr," from L., "remains, remnants," noun use of fem. pl. of reliquus "remaining, that which remains," from re- "back" + root of linquere "to leave" (see relinquish). Sense of "remains, ruins" is from c.1325. Old English used reliquias, directly from Latin.

relict --- widow, c.1460, from M.L. relicta "widow," noun use of fem. of relictus "abandoned, left behind," prop. pp. of L. relinquere "to leave behind" (see relinquish).

relief (1) --- ease, alleviation, c.1330, from Anglo-Fr. relif, from O.Fr. relief "assistance," lit. "a raising, that which is lifted," from stressed stem of relever (see relieve). Meaning "aid to impoverished persons" is attested from c.1400; that of "deliverance of a besieged town" is from c.1548.

relief (2) --- projection of figure or design from a flat surface, 1606, from It. rilievo, from rilevare "to raise," from L. relevare "to raise, lighten" (see relieve).

relieve --- c.1300, from O.Fr. relever "to raise, relieve" (11c.), from L. relevare "to raise, alleviate," from re-, intensive prefix, + levare "to lift up, lighten," from levis "not heavy" (see lever). The notion is "to raise (someone) out of trouble." Reliever in the baseball pitcher sense is recorded from 1967.

religieuse --- a nun, 1694, from Fr., fem. of religieux "monk," prop. "religious," from O.Fr. religion (see religion). As a type of pastry, attested from 1929.

religion --- c.1200, "state of life bound by monastic vows," also "conduct indicating a belief in a divine power," from Anglo-Fr. religiun (11c.), from O.Fr. religion "religious community," from L. religionem (nom. religio) "respect for what is sacred, reverence for the gods," in L.L. "monastic life" (5c.); according to Cicero, derived from relegare "go through again, read again," from re- "again" + legere "read" (see lecture). However, popular etymology among the later ancients (and many modern writers) connects it with religare "to bind fast" (see rely), via notion of "place an obligation on," or "bond between humans and gods." Another possible origin is religiens "careful," opposite of negligens. Meaning "particular system of faith" is recorded from c.1300.

relinquish --- 1472, from M.Fr. relinquiss-, prp. stem of relinquir (12c.), from L. relinquere "leave behind, forsake, abandon, give up," from re- "back" + linquere "to leave," from PIE *linkw-, from base *leikw- "to leave behind" (cf. Skt. reknas "inheritance, wealth," rinakti "leaves;" Gk. leipein "to leave;" Goth. leihvan, O.E. lænan "to lend;" O.H.G. lihan "to borrow;" O.N. lan "loan").

reliquary --- receptacle for keeping relics, 1656, from Fr. reliquaire (14c.), from O.Fr. relique (see relic).

relique --- Frenchified spelling of relic (q.v.).

reliquiae --- remains, 1654, from L., pl. of reliquus "remaining," related to relinquere (perf. reliqui) "to leave behind" (see relinquish).

relish --- 1530, "taste, flavor," alteration of reles "scent, taste, aftertaste," (c.1320), from O.Fr. relais, reles "something remaining, that which is left behind," from relaisser (see release). Meaning "enjoyment of the taste or flavor of something" is attested from 1649. Sense of "condiment" is first recorded 1797. The verb is attested from 1567 (implied in relished); sense of "to enjoy, take pleasure in" is from 1594.

relive --- 1548, "to come to life again" (also "to restore to life again"), from re- "back, again" + live (v.). Meaning "to experience over again" is attested from c.1711.

reload (v.) --- 1778, from re- "back, again" + load (v.).

relocate --- to move to another place, 1834, from re- "back, again" + locate (v.). The noun relocation is attested from 1746, in Scottish law, with a sense of "renewal of a lease."

reluctance --- 1641, "act of struggling against," from obsolete verb reluct "to struggle or rebel against" (1526), from L. reluctari "to struggle against," from re- "against" + luctari "to struggle." Meaning "unwillingness" is first attested 1667. Reluctant "unwilling" is recorded from 1706.

rely --- c.1330, "to gather, assemble," from O.Fr. relier "fasten, attach, rally, oblige," from L. religare "fasten, bind fast," from re-, intensive prefix, + ligare "to bind" (see ligament). Sense of "depend, trust" is from 1574, perhaps via notion of "rally to, fall back on."

rem --- unit for measuring radiation, 1947, acronym of roentgen equivalent man.

remain --- c.1375, from O.Fr. remain-, stressed stem of remanoir, from L. remanere "to remain, to stay behind," from re- "back" + manere "to stay, remain." Remains (n.), euphemism for "corpse," is attested from c.1700, from mortal remains. The noun remain "those left over or surviving" is attested from c.1470, but the more usual n. form in Eng. has been remainder (1424), from Anglo-Fr. remainder (O.Fr. remaindre), variant of O.Fr. remanoir.

remake (v.) --- 1635, from re- "back, again" + make (q.v.).

remand --- 1439, from M.Fr. remander (12c.), from L.L. remandare "to send back word, repeat a command," from L. re- "back" + mandare "to consign, order, commit to one's charge" (see mandate).

remark (v.) --- 1633, "to mark out, distinguish" modeled on Fr. remarquer "to mark, note, heed," from M.Fr. re-, intensive prefix, + marquer "to mark," probably from a Gmc. source, cf. O.H.G. marchon "to delimit" (see mark). Original sense preserved in remarkable (1604); meaning "make a comment" is first attested c.1694, from notion of "make a verbal observation" or "call attention to specific points." The noun is from 1654.

remarry --- 1523, from re- "back, again" + marry (q.v.).

rematch (n.) --- 1941, from re- "back, again" + match (n.) "contest."

remedial --- 1651, "curing, relieving," from L. remedialis "healing, curing," from L. remedium (see remedy). Educational sense of "concerned with improving skills" is first recorded 1924.

remedy (n.) --- c.1225, from Anglo-Fr. remedie, O.Fr. remede, from L. remedium "a cure, remedy, medicine" from re-, intensive prefix (or perhaps lit., "again"), + mederi "to heal" (see medical). The verb is attested from 1412.

remember --- c.1300, from O.Fr. remembrer (11c.), from L. rememorari "recall to mind, remember," from re- "again" + memorari "be mindful of," from memor "mindful" (see memory). Replaced native gemunan. The noun remembrance in the sense of "keepsake, souvenir" is recorded from 1425. Remembrance Day, the Sunday nearest Nov. 11 (originally in memory of the dead of World War I) is attested from 1921.

remind --- 1645, "to remember," from re- "again" + mind (v.). Meaning "to put (someone) in mind of (something)" is first recorded 1660. Reminder is attested from 1653.

Remington --- type of firearms (1865) and typewriter (produced from 1874), from Eliphalet Remington (1793-1861) and his son Philo (1816-89), gunsmiths of Ilion, N.Y.

reminiscence --- 1589, "act of remembering," from L.L. reminiscentia "remembrance, recollection," from reminiscentem (nom. reminiscens), prp. of reminisci "remember, recall to mind," from re- "again" + minisci "to remember," from root of mens "mind," from PIE base *men-/*mon- "think" (see mind (n.)). Meaning "a recollection of something past" is attested from 1811. Reminiscent "evoking memories" is first recorded 1880; reminisce is first recorded 1829.

remiss --- c.1412, "weak, dissolved," from L. remissus, pp. of remittere "slacken, abate, let go" (see remit). Meaning "characterized by lack of strictness" is attested from c.1450; that of "Characterized by negligence" is from 1502.

remission --- c.1225, "forgiveness or pardon (of sins)," from O.Fr. remission, from L. remissionem (nom. remissio) "relaxation, a sending back," from remiss-, pp. stem of remittere "slacken, let go, abate" (see remit). Used of diseases since c.1400.

remit --- c.1375, from L. remittere "send back, slacken, let go, abate," from re- "back" + mittere "to send" (see mission). Meaning "send money to someone" first recorded 1640.

remnant --- c.1350, from O.Fr. remanant, prop. prp. of remanoir "to remain" (see remain). Specific sense of "end of a piece of drapery, cloth, etc." is recorded from 1433.

remodel --- 1789, from re- "back, again" + model (v.).

remonstrance --- c.1477, from M.Fr. remonstrance (15c.), from M.L. remonstrantia, from remonstrans, prp. of remonstrare "point out, show," from L. re-, intensive prefix, + monstrare "to show" (see monster).

remora --- sucking fish, 1567, from L. remora, lit. "delay, hindrance," from re- "back" + mora "delay;" so called because the fish were believed by the ancients to retard a vessel to which they attached themselves. Pliny writes that Antony's galley was delayed by one at the Battle of Actium. Sometimes called in Eng. stayship or stopship.

remorse --- c.1374, from O.Fr. remors (Fr. remords), from M.L. remorsum, from neut. pp. of L. remordere "to vex, disturb," lit. "to bite back," from re- "again" + mordere "to bite" (see smart (v.)). The sense evolution was via the M.L. phrase remorsus conscientiæ (translated into M.E. as ayenbite of inwit).

remote --- c.1420, from L. remotus "afar off, remote," pp. of removere "move back or away" (see remove). Remote control is recorded from 1904.

remove --- c.1300, from O.Fr. remouvoir, from L. removere "move back or away," from re- "back, away" + movere "to move" (see move). The noun is first recorded 1553, "act of removing;" sense of "space or interval by which one thing is distant from another" is attested from 1628.

remuneration --- 1477, from L. remunerationem (nom. remuneratio) "a repaying, recompense," from remuneratus, pp. of remunerari "to reward," from re- "back" + munerari "to give," from munus (gen. muneris) "gift, office, duty" (see municipal). Remunerative is from 1677.

Remy Martin --- from Fr. Rémy Martin, proprietary name of a type of cognac, 1951, from the name of the founder (1724).

Renaissance --- great period of revival of classical-based art and learning in Europe that began 14c., 1840, from Fr. renaissance des lettres, from O.Fr. renaissance, lit. "rebirth," usually in a spiritual sense, from renaître "be born again," from V.L. *renascere, from L. renasci "be born again," from re- "again" + nasci "be born" (see nascent). An earlier term for it was revival of learning (1785). In general usage, with a lower-case r-, "a revival" (esp. of learning, literature, art), it is attested from 1872. Renaissance man is first recorded 1906.

renal --- 1656, from L.L. renalis "of or belonging to kidneys," from L. ren (pl. renes) "kidneys."

renascence --- 1727, from renascent, from L. renascentem (nom. renascens), prp. of renasci "be born again" (see renaissance). First used as a native alternative to, The Renaissance in 1869 by Matthew Arnold.

rend --- O.E. rendon "to tear, cut," from W.Gmc. *randijanan (cf. O.Fris. renda "to cut, break," M.L.G. rende "anything broken"), related to rind. Not found in other Gmc. languages.

render --- c.1325, "to repeat," from O.Fr. rendre "give back, present, yield," from V.L. *rendere (formed on analogy of its antonym, prendre "to take"), from L. reddere "give back, return, restore," from re- "back" + comb. form of dare "to give" (see date (1)). Meaning "hand over, deliver" is recorded from c.1375; "to return (thanks, etc.)" is attested from 1484; meaning "represent, depict" is first attested 1599. Rendering "extracting or melting of fat" is attested from 1792; sense of "reproduction, representation" is from 1862.