Reignite

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To cause a fire or flame to begin burning again ; to restore energy or enthusiasm to a feeling or activity that had diminished
2. To light up a flame or fire once more ; to bring back interest or passion into a relationship, idea, or event
3. To cause burning to resume in a fire or spark ; to reactivate or rejuvenate a declining emotion, cause, or situation

Etymology: "Reignite" is a plain compound: the prefix "re-", meaning again, attached to "ignite," which comes from the Latin "ignire," to set on fire, related to "ignis," fire. So the word literally means to set alight a second time, and its sense of rekindling enthusiasm is a figurative extension of that physical meaning. The "re-" prefix has its own path into English. It descends from Latin "re-" (again, back), which passed into Old French as "re-" and then into Middle English, where it became a productive way to form new verbs. English speakers have been attaching it to existing words ever since, so "reignite" belongs to a large family that includes "reheat," "rebuild," and "renew." The English verb "ignite" itself was formed directly from Latin "ignitus," the past participle of "ignire," and it has been used in English since the 1600s. "Reignite" followed as a straightforward combination of the two parts, which is why its meaning can be read straight off its spelling.

Synonyms: rekindle, revive, restore, refresh, reactivate

Antonyms: extinguish, douse, quench, suppress, smother