Combobulate

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To put something into proper order or working condition, or to compose oneself after confusion
2. To restore order or functionality to something that was disorganized or malfunctioning ; to regain calmness or clarity after a period of confusion or distress
3. To put into correct arrangement or working shape after disorder ; to bring oneself back to a focused or balanced state following confusion

Etymology: "Combobulate" is a back-formation from "discombobulate," meaning it was created by stripping a supposed prefix off a longer word. English speakers apparently took "discombobulate" to be "dis-" plus a base, and then reversed that split to produce a verb meaning the opposite. The result is a word that exists only as the undoing of another word, which is an unusual way for a verb to come into being. The source word "discombobulate" is itself a 19th-century American coinage of uncertain origin, and its sense of throwing someone into confusion came first. "Combobulate" then picked up the reverse meaning, restoring order or composure. Its use as a playful alternative to "organize" or "recover" reflects the same jocular tone that gave birth to its parent word.

Synonyms: organize, arrange, order, systematize, assemble

Antonyms: disorganize, scatter, disarrange, confuse, jumble