re-, red-

1. To annul, or to make void, by recalling or taking back; to cancel, rescind, repeal, or reverse: Jill's driver's license was revoked by officials because she was considered to be a reckless driver; especially, since she had had so many traffic violations.

James was allowed to use Marie's cell phone, but she revoked this privilege when he started to use it to show his friends her private e-mails.

2. To cancel an act, particularly a statement, document, or promise as if it no longer exists: A person can revoke a will or an offer to enter into a contract, while a government agency can officially declare that something is no longer legal. © ALL rights are reserved.
© ALL rights are reserved.

Go to this Word A Day Revisited Index
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1. The movement of one celestial body which is in orbit around another one. It is often measured as the "orbital period".
2. An attempt to overthrow the existing form of a political organization, the principles of economic production and distribution, and the allocation of social status.
3. A rebellion in which a government is overthrown; usually, by force, and a new group of rulers takes over.

Sometimes the whole social order is overthrown.

4. Any large-scale change in society; such as, the Industrial Revolution which was also a cultural revolution.

The development of the microchip caused a revolution in the computer industry.

5. A drastic and far-reaching change in the ways of thinking and behaving.
6. Etymology: from the late 14th century, originally referring to celestial bodies, from Old French revolution, from Late Latin revolutionem, revolutio, "a revolving"; from Latin revolutus, revolvere, "to turn, to roll back".

Latin volvere, "to roll" with the prefix re-, "again" produced revolvere, "to roll back, to turn", which when filtered through French, became the English term revolve in the 14th century; originally, meaning "to change" and only taking on the meaning "orbit" in the late 1600's.

Revolution also came into English via French, in the late 14th century, with the original meaning of "the action of a celestial body moving in an orbit".

Over a period of time, revolution came to mean, "turning around" or "change", and by 1600, it acquired the meaning of "overthrow of the established order".

1. A variety show with topical sketches, songs, dancing, and comedians.
2. A musical variety show consisting of skits, dance routines, and songs that often satirize current events and personalities.
3. Etymology: "show, presenting a review of current events", from French revue, from Middle French reveue, literally, "survey, a reviewing, review"; from Latin revidere which came from re-, "again" + videre, "to see".