reopenv.
/ˌriːˈəʊp(ə)n/, /rɪˈəʊp(ə)n/, U.S. /riˈoʊp(ə)n/ 1.
a. transitive. To open again or a further time (something that has been physically closed). Also figurative, esp. of wounds.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > condition of being open or not closed > open [verb (transitive)] > again
reopen1605
1605 J. Sylvester Sonnets upon Miraculous Peace in tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. 594 Shall I..Re-open wounds that are now heal'd almost, And new-remember nigh-forgotten wrongs?
a1618 J. Sylvester tr. G. Fracastoro Maidens Blush (1620) sig. B5v Th' Eternall Sonne..Shall..wide re-open [L. praepandat] Heauens long-locked Gate.
1733 J. Tull Horse-hoing Husbandry i. 4 The weak sorts of Roots can penetrate no farther into it, unless re-open'd by new Tillage.
1739 H. Baker & J. Miller Cit turn'd Gentleman ii. vi. 51 The Vowel, O, is form'd by re-opening the Jaws, and drawing the Lips near at the two Corners.
1814 W. Scott Waverley I. xvii. 260 The eyes of our hero..gradually closed; nor did he re-open them till the morning sun was high on the lake without. View more context for this quotation
1865 E. B. Pusey Eirenicon 16 When the Churches were reopened in Paris after the first revolution.
1885 Cent. Mag. May 142/1 The refortification of Manassas, the reopening of the Manassas Gap Railroad, the protection of its bridges by block-houses.
1918 F. C. Warnshuis Princ. Surg. Nursing ix. 124 Control of bleeding vessels..by reopening the wound and religating the vessel.
1935 ‘A. Bridge’ Illyrian Spring iii. 27 The Museum was by now closed, and the custodian trimming roses in his garden—but he was easily persuaded to reopen it.
1952 M. Kennedy Troy Chimneys 75 I no longer cared to speak, or to reopen a wound which had healed after a fashion.
2008 Wisconsin State Jrnl. (Nexis) 16 June b1 The city has locked, reopened, and on April 24, relocked a small parking lot that has attracted loiterers.
b. intransitive. Of something closed: to open again.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > condition of being open or not closed > become open [verb (intransitive)] > again
reopen1753
1753 T. Smollett Ferdinand Count Fathom II. lxiv. 260 The door re-opening, Renaldo led in this mirror of elegance and beauty.
1796 F. Burney Camilla V. ix. i. 5 Her spirits now rose, and her prospects re-opened to their wished termination.
1830 E. Bulwer-Lytton Paul Clifford II. xi. 286 His warm heart at once re-opened to the liking he had formerly conceived for Clifford.
1885 in B. St. J. Bellairs Transvaal War 125 Such of the..stores as still held any goods would occasionally reopen.
1910 E. M. Forster Howards End xliv. 336 The meadow was being recut, the great red poppies were reopening in the garden.
1946 C. Bush Case Second Chance xiii. 175 There were few children on the Heath that afternoon, for the schools had reopened.
1986 K. Ishiguro Artist of Floating World 63 It was his responsibility to expand and re-open in grand style.
2.
a. transitive. To open up again (a process, as negotiations); to renew. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > undertaking > beginning action or activity > begin or enter upon (an action) [verb (transitive)] > again
renovela1325
renewa1387
resumec1400
renove?c1425
anewc1440
reassume1472
to take again1474
take1477
reprise1481
recommencea1513
renovate1535
to take up1587
rebegin1598
reopen1756
1756 R. Rolt New Dict. Trade at Cambric Which encouraged several merchants, and eminent tradesmen, to prefer a petition to parliament, for reopening that part of their commerce with France.
1800 Edinb. Advertiser 31 Jan.–4 Feb. 77/2 The Negociation between France and America is re opened, but does not appear to have made much progress.
1848 R. I. Wilberforce Doctr. Incarnation (1852) iv. 88 In Him intercourse with God was perfectly reopened.
1858 J. Martineau Stud. Christianity 140 His..absence reopened their opportunities.
1908 W. Dalton Auction Bridge i. 27 When a declaration is doubled by one of the opponents, the game is re-opened.
1991 A. Eagleson & S. Young Power Play vii. 144 All this had come about by us re-opening our collective bargaining agreement in 1977 at the owners' request.
b. transitive. To resume the discussion of (something settled or decided).
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > beginning > begin with [verb (transitive)] > resume
continuec1425
renew1590
resume1600
reopen1805
1805 Times 26 June 3/3 The Right Hon. Gentleman might come down again and reopen the question, and decide that there should be no impeachment at all.
1851 R. Hussey Rise Papal Power ii. 77 Urging him..not to allow questions to be reopened, which had been already fully determined.
1853 C. Dickens Bleak House xxxiv. 340 After I have finished speaking I have closed the subject, and I won't re-open it.
a1901 J. Fiske Ess. Hist. & Literary (1902) i. iii. 177 This acquisition of territory reopened the question as to slavery, which the framers of the Constitution thought they had closed by their compromises.
1956 A. J. Cronin Crusader's Tomb 202 ‘How will they take this at the Rectory?’ ‘Badly. It's sure to reopen the whole messy business.’
2007 Observer 11 Mar. 27/1 The controversy has reopened the debate over which of the world's artefacts are considered ‘unlendable’.
c. transitive. To recommence (firing); to recommence firing with (a gun). Cf. to open fire at fire n. and int. Phrases 2f.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > action of propelling missile > discharge of firearms > fire (a gun) [verb (transitive)] > recommence firing
reopen1818
1818 Asiatic Jrnl. & Monthly Reg. July 95/2 A few of the enemy's guns, which..had reopened their fire..were again charged and recarried by five companies from the reserve.
1843 F. Sale Jrnl. Disasters Afghanistan 127 The gun was instantly re-opened on the enemy.
1850 R. Gordon-Cumming Five Years Hunter's Life S. Afr. I. viii. 168 Having loaded, I re-opened my fire.
1881 in B. St. J. Bellairs Transvaal War (1885) 136 The rebels then deliberately reopened fire on the officers carrying the flags.
1904 J. S. Corbett Eng. in Mediterranean II. xxxi. 260 A gun or two headed them back, and under a misapprehension that it was a signal to re-open fire, the bombardment broke out again.
1971 Times 11 Feb. 6/5 Whether Israel would withdraw from the Jarring talks if Egypt reopened fire on March 7.
Derivatives
reˈopened adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > undertaking > beginning action or activity > [adjective] > bringing into action > brought into action or set in operation > again
renovate1548
renovated1650
reopened1842
restarted1863
1842 E. B. Pusey Crisis Eng. Church 96 This re-opened intercourse with the East is..a crisis in the history of our Church.
1981 T. Barling Bikini Red North v. 110 Blood from his reopened head wound.
2007 Daily Tel. 13 June 20/1 The reopened Royal Festival Hall is a rare achievement of modesty and taste.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2009; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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