What does reconquered mean?
Reconquered is the past tense and past participle of reconquer, meaning to conquer or take control of something again after it has been lost. Its clearest use is military or historical: an army may reconquer a fortress, an island, or occupied territory. The word can also have a figurative use, as when someone reconquers a former reputation, a difficult position, or an important advantage. Unlike the broader word recover, reconquer implies deliberate action and often a struggle to regain what was previously held. It is consequently somewhat more dramatic than retake and conveys the idea of reversing an earlier loss. The prefix re- indicates repetition, while the verb retains the basic sense of conquer.
verbTo conquer or regain control of something for a second time.
- To conquer or regain control of a place, territory, or possession again.
"The army returned the following spring to reconquer the abandoned fortress."
"The rebels returned in 1815 to reconquer the island."
"She worked for years to reconquer her former position in the industry."
To reconquer is to win a prize twice: first the battle, and then the return journey.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does reconquered come from?
The word combines the prefix re-, meaning “again,” with conquer, which comes ultimately from Latin conquirere, formed from con- and quaerere, meaning “to seek.” The combination therefore describes seeking or gaining control again. Conquer entered Middle English from Old French conquered, with the final English -ed later replacing the French -ed inflection.
Related word forms
How reconquered is actually used
Usually transitive and past tense or past participle. Its military sense is common, but it can also be used figuratively for regaining a position, reputation, or advantage.
Easily confused with reconquered
Reconquer implies taking something by force after it has been lost, whereas recover can mean regaining possession, health, money, or status by any means.