regroupv.
/riːˈɡruːp/, U.S. /ˌriˈɡrup/ 1. transitive. To group again or differently; to form into a new group or groups; spec. to reassemble (a military force or similar body). Also figurative and reflexive, of an individual.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being gathered together > gather together [verb (intransitive)] > gather in (a) group(s) > again
regroup1845
the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being gathered together > gather together [verb (transitive)] > group > again
regroup1845
1845 Times 2 Aug. 3/5 They ought to have re-grouped them into what were really competing lines, and those which were not.
1889 Spectator 19 Oct. A happy knack of refurbishing and regrouping the well-known properties.
1910 Encycl. Brit. II. 538/2 We..perform the subtractions independently, and then regroup the results as the remainder.
1949 New Life Oct. 246 Today it is the masses, the workers who are uprooted and are regrouped..in the industrial regions, in ‘Octopus’ towns.
1968 Winterthur Portfolio 4 89/1 Colonel Smith regrouped his forces, lectured the men for disobeying orders..and marched them toward Concord.
1969 Baseball Digest Aug. 31/1 You have to really regroup yourself—really concentrate.
1975 A. McCaffrey Kilternan Legacy (1976) xxi. 269 But right now I have to regroup my energies.
2003 M. Ali Brick Lane xvii. 336 He was busy regrouping the Bengal Tigers, planning the March Against the March Against the Mullahs.
2.
a. intransitive. Of a group of people: to reassemble as a group; (spec. of a military force): to reassemble into an effective, organized group, typically after being attacked or defeated. Cf. rally v.1
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military operations > manoeuvre > [verb (intransitive)] > rally
recoverc1330
rely?a1400
relievec1425
re-allyc1485
rally1599
reconcentrate1884
regroupa1944
a1944 K. Douglas Alamein to Zem Zem (1946) 69 We had all seen the enemy so disorganized that it did not seem possible he could regroup enough to give us much trouble.
1951 Pop. Sci. Aug. 94/2 The Marines broke out of the pocket and joined up with other UN outfits to regroup for a counterattack.
1981 Times 25 Apr. 12/3 The host and the other men said their evening prayers. They regrouped around the fire.
1995 Time 6 June 52/3 Heavy equipment and communications gear to help the peacekeepers ‘regroup’ into six so defensible enclaves.
b. intransitive. figurative. To recover mentally or physically from some setback; to collect one's thoughts, strength, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > amending > restoration > be or become restored [verb (intransitive)]
recruit1646
retrieve1759
redintegrate1788
to lift up one's head1838
recoup1896
regroup1968
1968 Negro Digest June 83/2 I had to admit that I was old and tired..so maybe I should step aside and regroup.
1976 National Observer (U.S.) 22 May 10/3 It was very important for me to find day care so I could regroup psychologically.
1989 J. Tatelbaum You don't have to Suffer (1990) iii. xxi. 143 We may become sick in order to stop or rest or regroup or be taken care of.
2005 J. Weiner Goodnight Nobody x. 87 I paused to sip my drink and regroup before asking, as casually as I could, ‘Did you ever answer Kitty's phone?’
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2009; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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