What does reinter mean?
Reinter is a rare, archaic English verb meaning to bury something again or place it in the earth a second time. Its structure is transparent: the prefix re- means “again,” while inter is an older verb associated with putting a body in the ground or depositing it in a tomb. In literary or historical writing, the word may distinguish a second burial from a first, such as when a body is moved into a new grave or returned to the earth after being temporarily kept elsewhere. In everyday contemporary English, however, “rebury” is the usual term, while “reinter” can sound artificial or literary unless it is being used for stylistic effect. Despite its present rarity, it remains intelligible and demonstrates the productive use of re- to add the sense of repetition to an existing verb.
verbTo bury or place in the earth again.
- To bury or place in the earth again.
"The remains were reinterred in a newly consecrated crypt."
"The remains were reinterred in a newly consecrated crypt."
"The sexton was instructed to reinter the body beneath the church floor."
A compact piece of wordplay: re- plus inter means to put someone in the earth a second time.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does reinter come from?
Reinter was formed in English by combining re-, meaning “again,” with inter, an earlier verb meaning “to put in the earth” or “to bury.” The older verb belongs to a family of English words associated with burial and the earth, including interment. Modern usage is uncommon, but the word retains its original transparent sense of burying or depositing in the earth again.
Related word forms
How reinter is actually used
Rare and archaic. The word occurs chiefly in historical or formal contexts; modern English normally uses “rebury” or “reinter.”
Easily confused with reinter
Inter means to place a body in the earth or a corpse in a tomb, while reinter means to do so again.