Rekindled

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Caused a fire or flame to start burning once more ; restored or renewed a feeling, emotion, or interest that had faded
2. Started burning again after being extinguished ; brought back or reawakened a previously diminished passion or enthusiasm
3. Reignited heat or flames that had died down ; revived a sentiment, desire, or interest that had weakened or disappeared

Etymology: "Rekindled" is the past form of "rekindle," which joins the prefix "re-" to "kindle." The prefix means "again," so the verb says, quite literally, to light a fire once more. "Kindle" itself is older and more physical. It first meant to set something alight or to be set alight, and only later took on the figurative sense of stirring up feelings such as love, hope or anger. That shift from burning wood to inflaming emotion is why "rekindled hope" reads so naturally today: the metaphor was already built into the base word. The prefix arrived through Latin "re-" and Old French "re-", and "rekindle" appears in English in the Middle English period, when the verb was formed from the existing "kindle" by adding "re-". The combination is transparent, so the word has changed little in meaning since its formation.

Synonyms: revived, reawakened, reignited

Antonyms: extinguished, doused