Iterate vs. Reiterate

RickJ · Mar 18, 2009, 03:51 AM

I see that both iterate and reiterate basically mean the same thing:

"to say (or do) again or repeatedly"

How is it that adding "re" to a word, which I typically take to mean "again", keeps the meaning the same.

Yes, I know that "reiterate" is used far more often than "iterate"... but I'm just curious in case I ever get on Jeopardy :)

Do any of you wordSmiths have a comment on this?

tickle · Mar 18, 2009, 04:11 AM

iterate = repeat

reiterate = repeat AGAIN

A common mistake and completely erroneous is saying 'let me REiterate AGAIN'.

REtick

artlady · Mar 18, 2009, 04:22 AM

iterate means 'do or say something again' and reiterate is the result of the erroneous addition of a redundant prefix; iterate is used more for repeated actions like mathematical functions and reiterate tends to be used for things one says
Antonyms: take back

No wordsmith here,although I am a crossword junkie.I think the best explanation came from the link you provided.It is rather confusing ,now that you mention it.

reiterate definition | Dictionary.com

RickJ · Mar 18, 2009, 05:18 AM

?

"Again" also appears in the definition of "iterate":

1. to utter again or repeatedly.
2. to do (something) over again or repeatedly.

Confusion? Yep, there's lots. I'm not seeing the difference.

todeepershores · Oct 17, 2010, 06:43 AM

A way I see this making sense is to say that "iterate" is something that is establishes the "repetitious act/saying", and "reiterate" the saying again of the "repetitious act/saying"... as if the latter acts/sayings are repetitions of the repetition (not a repetition of the first time said/performed)

I agree with Tickle- "repeat again" is silly (i.e. to put "re" in front of a word that already carries the idea of "repeat" is silly)-

And some folk have argued even further that one can never actually "say again" (there is no "repeat" only new instances-- see Derrida if you like!)

If there is no difference, it is hard to see why we have the two words-
And if there is no difference, I suspect that most people would argue that "iteration" is NOT an "actual word" (what I tend to hear the most in University and "on the street" is 'reiterate'... ) although I will stick with my "iterate"