What is the etymology of "replenish"?

Question

Where does the word "replenish" come from, and what does it mean? I know it is used as a form of "refill", but is that how it was originally?

Answer 1

It means (according to my trusty New Webster's Encyclopedic Dictionary):

1. to make full or complete again
2. to supply with fresh fuel
3. to fill again or anew
4. (intransitively) to become full or complete again

According to another dictionary (the one built-in in Mac OS X), the origin of the word can be traced to Old French (and further to Latin, of course), as follows:

ORIGIN late Middle English (in the sense [supply abundantly] ): from Old French repleniss-, lengthened stem of replenir, from re- ‘again’ (also expressing intensive force) + plenir ‘fill’ (from Latin plenus ‘full’ ).

Based on that, I don't think it has had other meanings in English earlier. As to why should one use this word instead of the less fancy refill – I have no idea, except perhaps to show off & try to sound educated.

Answer 2

Webster's 1828 dictionary gives this definition:

In the transitive form:

REPLEN'ISH, verb transitive [L. re and plenus, full.] :

1. To fill; to stock with numbers or abundance.
   The magazines are replenished with corn.
   The springs are replenished with water.
   Multiply and replenish the earth. Gen 1.

In the intransitive form:

REPLEN'ISH, verb intransitive: To recover former fullness.

Another answer gives this:

... "replenish" is of French/Latin origin and "fill" is of Anglo-Saxon/Germanic origin. Interestingly, roll the clock back a couple thousand years and they should be the same word. Germanic languages tended to turn P into F, so the ancestor of both words was probably "pell" or "pill".

In short:

If it is a transitive verb ("Replenish the bin.") it means fill, if intransitive ("It will replenish", it means refill.

Answer 3

As reported from the NOAD:

ORIGIN late Middle English (in the sense [supply abundantly]): from Old French repleniss-, lengthened stem of replenir, from re- 'again' (also expressing intensive force) + plenir 'fill' (from Latin plenus 'full').

Answer 4

Merriam-Webster's 11th Collegiate Dictionary

transitive verb

1. a : to fill with persons or animals : STOCK b archaic : to supply fully : PERFECT c : to fill with inspiration or power : NOURISH
2. a : to fill or build up again b : to make good : REPLACE intransitive verb : to become full : fill up again

Answer 5

Jonik is right, "replenish" is of French/Latin origin and "fill" is of Anglo-Saxon/Germanic origin. Interestingly, roll the clock back a couple thousand years and they should be the same word. Germanic languages tended to turn P into F, so the ancestor of both words was probably "pell" or "pill".