Realigning

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Changing the position or arrangement of something to restore proper alignment
2. Modifying the placement or structure of an object or system to achieve correct orientation
3. Repositioning parts or elements so they line up correctly or function better

Etymology: "Realigning" is the present participle of "realign," so it is the form of the verb meaning to line up again or bring back into alignment. The verb is built from two parts. The prefix "re-" means "again" or "back," and "align" comes from Old French "aligner," meaning to place in a line, which itself traces back to Latin "linea," a line, the source of English "line." The prefix has a longer pedigree than the verb. It descends from a Latin "re-," which English inherited through Old French and Middle English, so the "re-" in "realign" is an old and very productive piece of the language, used to form countless verbs such as "reread" or "rebuild." The base "align" reached English later, through the same French route, so the combined verb is a modern formation from parts that had already been in use for centuries.

Synonyms: adjusting, repositioning, rearranging, realigning, remodelling