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rehearse

 - 3 dictionary results

re⋅hearse

  [ri-hurs] verb, -hearsed, -hears⋅ing.
Use rehearse in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to practice (a musical composition, a play, a speech, etc.) in private prior to a public presentation.
2. to drill or train (an actor, musician, etc.) by rehearsal, as for some performance or part.
3. to relate the facts or particulars of; recount.
–verb (used without object)
4. to rehearse a play, part, etc.; participate in a rehearsal.
Origin:
1300–50; ME rehersen, rehercen < MF rehercier to repeat, equiv. to re- re- + hercier to strike, harrow (deriv. of herce, herse a harrow); see hearse

Related forms:
re⋅hears⋅a⋅ble, adjective
re⋅hears⋅er, noun

Synonyms:
3. delineate, describe, portray; narrate, recapitulate. See relate.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To rehearse
re·hearse   (rĭ-hûrs')   
v.   re·hearsed, re·hears·ing, re·hears·es

v.   tr.

    1. To practice (a part in a play, for example) in preparation for a public performance.

    2. To direct in rehearsal: rehearsed the orchestra.

    3. To retell or recite.

    4. To list or enumerate: rehearsed her complaints in a letter. See Synonyms at describe.

  2. To perfect or cause to perfect (an action) by repetition. See Synonyms at practice.

    1. To retell or recite.

    2. To list or enumerate: rehearsed her complaints in a letter. See Synonyms at describe.

v.   intr.
To practice something, such as a speech, before presenting it publicly.

[Middle English rehercen, to repeat, from Old French rehercier : re-, re- + hercier, to harrow (from herce, harrow; see hearse).]
re·hears'er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

rehearse 
c.1300, "to give an account of," from Anglo-Fr. rehearser, O.Fr. rehercier "to go over again, repeat," lit. "to rake over," from re- "again" + hercier "to rake, harrow" (see hearse). Meaning "to say over again" is from 1340; sense of "practice a play, part, etc." is from 1579. Rehearsal dinner first attested 1953.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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