Resewing

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. The act of stitching fabric again to repair or alter an item ; the process of attaching pieces of material anew to restore or modify a textile object ; the task of sewing again to fix damage or customize clothing
2. Re-joining textile parts by stitching once more to correct or improve a garment ; the practice of repairing or changing fabric through additional sewn work ; the act of performing sewing a second time to enhance or mend cloth items
3. The process of repeating the act of sewing to mend, adjust, or reinforce fabric ; engaging in stitching anew to fix tears or reshape textile; restoring garments by reapplying stitches in necessary areas

Etymology: "Resewing" is the present participle and gerund of "resew", a simple formation: the prefix re-, meaning again, attached to "sew". The verb "sew" goes back to Old English, where it was "siwian" or "sīwian", and the re- element came into English from Latin through Old French, so "resew" is a mix of an ancient native stem and a Latin prefix that arrived by way of French. Because the base is so old, the compound adds no new idea beyond repetition. To resew is to stitch again, whether that means undoing a seam that gave way or putting fresh thread through a worn hem. The gerund form is the one used for the activity itself, so "resewing" names the repeated work rather than any single stitch.

Synonyms: restitching, mending, repairing, rethreading, restitiching