tr.v. re·ha·bil·i·tat·ed, re·ha·bil·i·tat·ing, re·ha·bil·i·tates 1. To restore to good health or useful life, as through therapy and education: rehabilitate a patient; rehabilitate a prison inmate. 2. To restore to good condition: rehabilitate a storefront; rehabilitate the economy. 3. To cause to be regarded again in a positive way; reestablish esteem for: rehabilitate a reputation; rehabilitate a forgotten poet. 4. To restore the former rank, privileges, or rights of: Under the new regime, party members who had been sent to prison were rehabilitated. [Medieval Latin rehabilitāre, rehabilitāt-, to restore to a former rank : Latin re-, re- + Late Latin habilitāre, to enable; see HABILITATE.] re′ha·bil′i·tata·ble adj. re′ha·bil′i·tation n. re′ha·bili·ta′tive adj. |
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