rehabilitate
[ree-huh-bil-i-teyt, ree-uh-]
- to restore to a condition of good health, ability to work, or the like.
- to restore to good condition, operation, or management, as a bankrupt business.
- to reestablish the good reputation of (a person, one's character or name, etc.).
- to restore formally to former capacity, standing, rank, rights, or privileges.
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- to undergo rehabilitation.
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Origin of rehabilitate
1570–80; < Medieval Latin rehabilitātus, past participle of rehabilitāre to restore. See re-, habilitate
Synonyms
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
restorerejuvenatereinvigoraterebuildrecoverrefurbishsavemendreconstructreestablishreclaimimprovereintegrateconvertreformclearredeemrenewrestitutereinstateExamples from the Web for rehabilitate
Contemporary Examples
"I did all the work to get my fastball back, to rehabilitate my shoulder," he says.
To rehabilitate his battered public image, he needs to do more than take selfies on the steps of City Hall.
This is clearly a step by Zimmerman to rehabilitate his image so he can hopefully profit off his fame down the line.
The only good news for Rubio is that his immigration gambit occurred early enough for him to rehabilitate and recover.
Punishment should be enough to deter, to punish, and in the case of incorrigibles, to rehabilitate.
Historical Examples
They advised him to inform the Entente, in order to rehabilitate himself.
The Birth of Yugoslavia, Volume 1Henry Baerlein
What I'm thinking about is how they're going to rehabilitate it.
The Galaxy PrimesEdward Elmer Smith
This lady was untiring in her efforts to reclaim and rehabilitate the fallen of her sex.
Monte-Cristo's DaughterEdmund Flagg
My only chance to rehabilitate myself is to get the third set of plans to Berlin.
The Dark StarRobert W. Chambers
And she had hoped somehow to rehabilitate herself in the eyes of the world.
Jennie GerhardtTheodore Dreiser
rehabilitate
- to help (a person who has acquired a disability or addiction or who has just been released from prison) to readapt to society or a new job, as by vocational guidance, retraining, or therapy
- to restore to a former position or rank
- to restore the good reputation of
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Word Origin
C16: from Medieval Latin rehabilitāre to restore, from re- + Latin habilitās skill, ability
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for rehabilitate
v.
1570s, "to bring back to a former condition after decay or damage," back-formation from rehabilitation and in part from Medieval Latin rehabilitatus, past participle of rehabilitare. Meaning "to restore one's reputation or character in the eyes of others" is from 1847. Related: Rehabilitated; rehabilitating.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
rehabilitate
(rē′hə-bĭl′ĭ-tāt′)- To restore to good health or useful life, as through therapy and education.
- To restore to good condition, operation, or capacity.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.