Recondition

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To restore something to good condition or working order ; to repair and renovate equipment to make it functional or usable again
2. The process of making an item physically sound and fit for use ; the act of fixing and refurbishing machinery or devices
3. Restoring the quality or functionality of an object ; carrying out repairs and improvements to equipment to ensure proper operation

Etymology: "Recondition" is a plain compound: the prefix "re-", meaning "again" or "back to a former state," attached to "condition," which in English means the state or fitness of a thing. Put together, it means to put something back into good working order. The prefix has a longer trail than the verb itself. "Re-" descends from a Proto-Italic form and reached Latin as "re-," where it carried the sense of backward movement or repetition. Through Old French, the prefix passed into English in the Middle English period, and it became a productive way of forming new verbs from existing ones, so English speakers could attach it to almost any word that suited the purpose. "Condition" came into English from Old French, which took it from Latin "condicio," a term for an agreement or stipulation. Over time the sense shifted from a binding term toward a state of being, and eventually toward the physical fitness of an object. Once "re-" was joined to that meaning, "recondition" naturally described restoring a machine or tool to its proper state.

Synonyms: restore, refurbish, revamp

Antonyms: deteriorate, damage