Wondering how the "re" fits into retirement and there is no meaning for the word tirement
2007-02-07 12:40:56 · 2 answers · asked by John A 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
re (prefix) means again
tire (root of the word) to have the strength reduced or exhausted, as by labor or exertion (like working on a job until you're 60)
ment (suffix) action or process
So retirement means literally 'process of having the strength reduced or exhausted, as by labor or exertion again'
But is used as "removal or withdrawal from service, office, or business."
Note: ment is a suffix, not part of the root.
2007-02-07 12:54:02 · answer #1 · answered by Andrea 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The "re" in "retirement" is not a prefix, just as "pre" in "present" is not a prefix. "Retirement" and "present" are simply whole words of their own, and the fact that their beginnings match prefixes is coincidence.
2007-02-07 20:43:54 · answer #2 · answered by Michael 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋