Reexamine

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To analyze or evaluate something once more to gain clarity or insight
2. To reassess previously reviewed material in order to uncover new information or perspectives
3. To look over something again with attention to detail to gain better understanding

Etymology: "Reexamine" is about as transparent as English compounds get: the prefix "re-" meaning "again" attached to "examine," so the word means to examine something a second time. The more interesting history lies in "examine" itself, which began as a physical act. It comes from Latin "examinare," meaning to weigh or test, and that root is related to "examen," the tongue of a balance scale, the pointer that showed whether two pans were level. To examine something was originally to weigh it against a standard and see where it came out. The word reached English through Old French "examiner," which carried the same sense of testing and inquiry. Over the centuries, the balance-scale image faded, and "examine" settled into the meaning of careful looking, questioning, or scrutiny. English speakers then added "re-" to make the idea of a second look explicit.

Synonyms: review, reassess, reconsider, reinspect, analyze again

Antonyms: ignore, overlook, disregard, dismiss, neglect