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Research: 're-' + 'search'



 
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ESL Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
Difference between So and Very | Strike, struck, struck/stricken
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Research: 're-' + 'search' Wed Oct 18, 2006 13:57 pm  Research: 're-' + 'search'
 

Hi

Just quick thought. (Sometimes I stumble over something 'quite usual' and get puzzled Smile ).

In my understanding, 're-' is the prefix that expresses one of the two ideas:
- repetition (Smile Smile) (as in redo, reload and re-count)
- modification, with an intention to produce better result (as in redesign and redistribute)

The word research is obviously created by re + search , and search isn’t too 'loaded' word and has rather 'a single' meaning.
(Or maybe I just don’t know something important?)

scientific re?search
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Research: 're-' + 'search' Wed Oct 18, 2006 14:11 pm  Research: 're-' + 'search'
 

Hi Tamara

Quote:
The word research is obviously created by re + search...

As a native speaker, I do not sense an "obvious" prefix. When I think of the word research, it is always as a unique word and not as a word with a prefix. Of course the prefix aspect is part of the word's history, but that's all it is to me.

Have a look here:
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=research

How about the word resemble? Do you sense a prefix there?

Amy
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Research: 're-' + 'search' Wed Oct 18, 2006 14:18 pm  Research: 're-' + 'search'
 

Hi Amy

Yankee wrote:
How about the word resemble? Do you sense a prefix there?

No. I don't know 'semble'. In contrast to 'search' Smile

OK. Perhaps, my brain is (are?) too analytical.

Thanks for the link.
By the way, what 'intensive prefix' (mentioned in the article you referred me to) means?
Could you give an example of another 'intensive prefix'?
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Research: 're-' + 'search' Wed Oct 18, 2006 14:29 pm  Research: 're-' + 'search'
 

Hi Tamara,

I would suggest it means that the 're' now forms part of the whole word, is solid with it, and is no longer considered to be a separate prefix as in:

refute/return/refund/repeat and so on and so on. Others could be :en/em/de -enable/encourage/enhance empower/employ/emit/degenerate/degrade/decide ....

Alan
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Research: 're-' + 'search' Wed Oct 18, 2006 14:37 pm  Research: 're-' + 'search'
 

Thanks, Alan. Clear.

Just one (the last Smile ) question: does it (what you and Amy said) also relates to 're-' written with hyphen?

There are lots of such words, re-arrest, re-allocate, etc., you know.
Moreover, according to my dictionary, recount and re-count (for examples) are two different words, with different meanings.
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Research: 're-' + 'search' Wed Oct 18, 2006 14:43 pm  Research: 're-' + 'search'
 

Hi,

I would say that using the hyphen with 're' indicates that the word thus created isn't in a so-called solid state and we want to keep the 'repetitive' element of 're' alive. The case in point is the word you mention- recount / re-count. The first meaning 'tell a story/give a narrative' where the word is looked on as a whole and the second meaning 'count again' where the two parts are need to be 'separated'

Alan

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Research: 're-' + 'search' Wed Oct 18, 2006 14:46 pm  Research: 're-' + 'search'
 

Tamara wrote:
H
No. I don't know 'semble'. In contrast to 'search' Smile

But I guess you do know these:
- remember and member
- relate and late
- record and cord
- remove and move

Wink

The point I wanted to make is that many words were originally created by adding a prefix to some other word, but are simply thought of as unique words today. For most people, the idea that a prefix is there is only vaguely in the subconscious -- if at all.

For other words, such as the word redo (i.e., do again), the added prefix is truly obvious.

Regarding intensifying prefixes, here is something that seems particularly fitting in view of your knitting thread. Laughing It discusses ravel/unravel and the (old) use of the prefix un- as an intensifier.

Amy
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Research: 're-' + 'search' Wed Oct 18, 2006 14:49 pm  Research: 're-' + 'search'
 

So, Alan, if I understand you correcly, re- (hyphened) isn't (yet Smile) 'adnate' prefix (dead joint? figuratevely:)) and still keeps its initial role.

OK.
Thanks.
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Research: 're-' + 'search' Wed Oct 18, 2006 14:54 pm  Research: 're-' + 'search'
 

Amy, I understand your point.
Thank you for your examples.

P.S.
Jut a quick glance at the article you gave (I'll re-read Smile it a bit later, more attentively.)
Quote:
With unravel, however, it is difficult to determine whether we have un- reversing the 'tangle' sense of ravel or intensifying the 'untangle' sense.
Smile
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