Reconvalescence

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The time required for an individual to regain health and strength after suffering from an illness is known as a recovery phase
2. The phase during which a person slowly restores health and regains strength following sickness
3. A duration marked by the progressive return of wellness and bodily vigor after being unwell

Etymology: "Reconvalescence" is a word that is, in a sense, a mistake that stuck around: it is the common noun "convalescence" with an extra "re-" fastened to the front, so it means, roughly, a second convalescence. Convalescence itself comes from Latin "convalescere", "to grow strong together" or "to regain strength", built from "con-" (together, thoroughly) and "valescere", an inceptive form of "valere", "to be strong". Its path into English runs through French, and the word has long meant the slow return to health after an illness. The prefix "re-" is what gives this form its oddity. English speakers have attached "re-" to countless verbs and nouns to mean "again," so "reconvalescence" simply follows that pattern, applying it to a noun that already contains the idea of recovery. The result is a word that describes a repeated recovery from illness, or a recovery from a relapse, rather than a new kind of healing.

Synonyms: recovery, recuperation, rehabilitation

Antonyms: decline, deterioration