Reupholstered

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. The activity of renewing furniture's fabric or padding includes replacing or enhancing its overall look and comfort
2. The task of updating upholstery requires changing the covering and possibly the filling to improve aesthetics and functionality
3. The process of restoring furniture involves replacing its fabric or padding and enhancing its visual appeal and comfort level

Etymology: "Reupholstered" is the past tense and past participle of "reupholster," so the history that matters is that of its two parts. The prefix "re-" means "again" and comes from Latin, where it appeared in words like "reddere" (to give back). "Upholster" is older and more interesting: it was formed from "upholder," an old English term for a dealer in cloth, furniture, and small goods, which itself came from "uphold" in the sense of holding up or supporting something. Upholsterers were, in effect, those who held up the soft furnishings of a room. Put together, "reupholster" means to furnish again: to strip a chair or sofa of its old covering and stuffing and provide new ones. The verb is a plain compound with no hidden detour, so its story is mostly the story of "upholster" plus a prefix that English has used freely for centuries.

Synonyms: refurnished, recovered, restored, redone, redecorated