Reconditioning

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. The process of improving the state of an item involves repairing and enhancing its features to extend its usability
2. Revitalizing an object consists of making necessary repairs while also upgrading its components for better performance
3. The act of restoring something through repairs and maintenance to improve its functioning

Etymology: "Reconditioning" is the present participle and gerund of "recondition," a verb built from the prefix "re-" ("again," "back") and "condition." The base word traces back to Latin "condicio," a term for an agreement or arrangement, and "condition" later came to mean the state or fitness of something. So to recondition an object is, quite literally, to put it back into a working state, the way a worn machine or a neglected building might be restored to good order. The "re-" in the verb carries the same sense of restoration found in many English words, such as "rebuild" or "renew." Its two parts are transparent, so the word needs little explanation: it simply combines the idea of repeating an action with the idea of bringing something to a good state. The "-ing" ending turns the verb into a participle or gerund, which lets it name the process itself, as in "the reconditioning of the engine took three weeks."

Synonyms: rehabilitation, restoration, repair, renovation, recovery

Antonyms: deterioration, damage, degradation, destruction, ruin