reposer

Reposer is a French verb whose core meaning centers on rest and returning to a resting state. In its intransitive form, se reposer means to rest oneself—taking a break, recovering energy, or relaxing. In its transitive use, reposer can mean to place something back in its resting position or to lay something down again; it can also extend to the notion of postponing or setting aside a matter, depending on context. The reflexive form is common in everyday speech, while the non-reflexive form often appears in practical or physical contexts, for example on repose le livre sur la table.

Etymology: The verb derives from the prefix re- meaning again and the root poser (to place), with its sense of returning to a former position carried into modern French. It traces through Old French reposer from Latin reponere, to put back, via the evolution of the French verb system.

Usage: In everyday French, se reposer describes physical or mental rest: Je me repose après le travail. Transitive uses include repositioning objects: On repose le livre sur la table. The expression reposer une question means to ask the question again or to restate it, depending on context; reposer sur is a common idiom meaning to rest on or be based on, as in Cette théorie repose sur des données fiables.

See also: repose, se reposer, poser.