Definition of rehearse

The word "rehearse" originated from the Middle English word "rehercen," which itself came from the Old North French word "rehercer." The Old French term was a compound of "re-" meaning "again," and "hercer" which meant "to hear" or "to learn." The Old North French term "rehercer" was used to describe the process of studying or learning something again before presenting it to an audience, such as a play or a musical performance. This usage of the word translated to Middle English, and the spelling evolved into "rehercen." The first written recorded instance of the word in English is found in William Langland's "Piers Plowman," a 14th-century poem. In the 15th century, the word took on a wider usage, appearing in religious contexts to describe the repetition of prayers or scriptures. Over time, the spelling of the word evolved into "rehearse" as used today, and its current meaning, referring to the act of preparing for a performance, is well established in modern English.