redouble

See also: redoublé

English

Etymology

From Middle French redoubler. By surface analysis, re- +‎ double.

Verb

redouble (third-person singular simple present redoubles, present participle redoubling, simple past and past participle redoubled)

1. (transitive) To double, especially to double again; to increase considerably; to multiply; to intensify.

   Having lost sight of our objectives, we redoubled our efforts.

   • 1846, Herman Melville, Typee, ch. 10:

     Every item of intelligence appeared to redouble the astonishment of the islanders, and they gazed at us with inquiring looks.

   • 1903 October 21, “Plunder Hidden in Graves”, in New York Times, page 16:

     The police redoubled their efforts to capture the thieves.

   • 1922, Agatha Christie, “Chapter 17”, in The Secret Adversary:

     He heard the footsteps of his pursuers behind him, and redoubled his own pace. Once he got out of these by-ways he would be safe.

   • 2022 September 7, Philip Haigh, “Comment: More strikes and poor morale”, in RAIL, number 965, page 3:

     With suggestions that inflation will rise above 15%, I have no doubt that today's trade union leaders will redouble their efforts to secure their members a good deal.

2. (bridge, backgammon) To double an opponent's doubling bid.
3. (intransitive) To become twice as big.
4. To double again what was reduced to a single state.
   • 2019 December 4, “Lib Dems promise fares freeze and low-emission technology”, in Rail, page 6:

     Like the Conservatives and Labour, the Lib Dems plan to extend Britain's rail network, reopen stations and redouble singled routes.

Noun

redouble (plural redoubles)

1. (bridge) An optional bid made by the side currently holding the highest bid for the contract, after the opposing side has doubled.

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʁə.dubl/

Verb

redouble

1. inflection of redoubler:
   1. first/third-person singular present indicative/subjunctive
   2. second-person singular imperative

Anagrams

• débouler