rehabilitate (v.)

1580s, "restore to a former capacity or standing, or a former right, rank, or privilege lost or forfeited," a back-formation from rehabilitation and in part from Medieval Latin rehabilitatus, past participle of rehabilitare. Century Dictionary calls it "a term drawn from the civil and canon law."

By 1845 as "to bring back to a former condition after decay or damage." The meaning "to restore one's reputation or character in the esteem of others" is from 1847. Related: Rehabilitated; rehabilitating.

also from 1580s

Entries linking to rehabilitate

rehabilitation (n.)

1530s, "act of reinstating in a former rank or standing," from French réhabilitation and directly from Medieval Latin rehabilitationem (nominative rehabilitatio) "restoration," noun of action from past-participle stem of rehabilitare, from re- "again" (see re-) + habitare "make fit," from Latin habilis "easily managed, fit" (see able). Meaning "action of restoring anything to a previous condition" is by 1858. Specifically of criminals, addicts, etc., retrained for society from 1940.

rehab

by 1948 as a shortening of rehabilitation (originally of service members returning from World War II). As a verb, in reference to houses, by 1975, short for rehabilitate. Related: Rehabbed; rehabbing.

Trends of rehabilitate

adapted from books.google.com/ngrams/. Ngrams are probably unreliable.

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purge

c. 1300, purgen, "clear of a charge or suspicion," from Anglo-French purger, Old French purgier "wash, clean; refine, purify" morally or physically (12c., Modern French purger) and directly from Latin purgare "cleanse, make clean; purify," especially in reference to the body, "fr

restore

c. 1300, restoren, "to give back," also, "to build up again, repair; renew, re-establish; free from the effects of sin; bring back to a former and better state," from Old French restorer, from Latin restaurare "repair, rebuild, renew." This is from re- "back, again" (see re-) + -

barren

c. 1200, "incapable of producing its kind" (of female animals, plants), from Old French baraigne, baraing "sterile, barren" (12c.), perhaps originally brahain, a word of obscure derivation, possibly from a Germanic language. Its use in reference to males is rare. Of land, "produc

protocol

mid-15c., prothogol, "prologue;" 1540s, prothogall, "draft of a document, minutes of a transaction or negotiation, original of any writing" (senses now obsolete), from French prothocole (c. 1200, Modern French protocole), from Medieval Latin protocollum "draft," literally "the fi

baffle

1540s, "to disgrace," of uncertain origin. Perhaps a Scottish respelling of bauchle "to disgrace publicly" (especially a perjured knight), which is probably related to French bafouer "to abuse, hoodwink" (16c.), possibly from baf, a natural sound of disgust, like bah (compare Ger

Spam

proprietary name registered by Geo. A. Hormel & Co. in U.S., 1937; probably a conflation of spiced ham. Soon extended to other kinds of canned meat. Figurative of what is bland or unexciting by 1959. In the sense of "internet junk mail" it was coined by Usenet users some time

comprise

early 15c., "to include," from Old French compris, past participle of comprendre "to contain, comprise" (12c.), from Latin comprehendere "to take together, to unite; include; seize; to comprehend, perceive" (to seize or take in the mind), from com "with, together," here probably

psychology

1650s, "the study of the soul," from Modern Latin psychologia, probably coined mid-16c. in Germany by Melanchthon from Latinized form of Greek psykhē "breath, spirit, soul" (see psyche) + logia "study of" (see -logy). The meaning "science or study of the phenomena of the mind" is

shenanigan

"nonsense; deceit, humbug," 1855, American English slang, of uncertain origin. Earliest records of it are in California (San Francisco and Sacramento). Suggestions include Spanish chanada, a shortened form of charranada "trick, deceit;" or, less likely, German Schenigelei, peddle

expert

late 14c., "having had experience; skillful," from Old French expert, espert "experienced, practiced, skilled" and directly from Latin expertus (contracted from *experitus), "tried, proved, known by experience," past participle of experiri "to try, test," from ex "out of" (see ex

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updated on June 19, 2021

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Dictionary entries near rehabilitate

regulator

Regulus

regurgitate

regurgitation

rehab

rehabilitate

rehabilitation

rehash

rehear

rehearsal

rehearse