Etymologically
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revideo

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 15:38. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [rɛˈwɪ.de.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [reˈviː.de.o][1]

Forms

revideō (present infinitive revidēre, perfect active revīdī, supine revīsum); second conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from re- “again” and videō “to see”.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Lewis and Short cite Plautus, nunc ad eram revidēbō “now I'll go back to see my mistress”.[4] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant to go back to see, pay another visit, and to revisit a place.[2][4] Cassiodorus uses it of seeing someone again.[4]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to review, re-examine, see again.[6] It survives in Italian rivedere, French revoir and Spanish rever, and through French it is behind English review, first recorded in the mid-15th century of a military inspection.[1][3]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of going back to see.[4][5]
  • c. 485–c. 580 AD – Cassiodorus uses it of seeing again.[4][5]
  • mid-15th century – English review is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To go back to see; to revisit.[2][4]
  2. (Ecclesiastical Latin) To review, re-examine.[6]

Word family

  • revīsiō
  • revīsō

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c d e f Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson