rediscover fire

verb

To relearn fundamental concepts, principles or practices that had been previously well known and widely practiced at a prior time in human society.

“It was necessary for them to rediscover fire, to relearn the basic laws of economics and rebuild civilization out of the ashes of ruin.”

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Meanings

verbrediscover fire (third-person singular simple present rediscovers fire, present participle rediscovering fire, simple past and past participle rediscovered fire)

present singular third person rediscovers fire · participle present rediscovering fire · participle past rediscovered fire · past rediscovered fire

  1. idiomaticTo relearn fundamental concepts, principles or practices that had been previously well known and widely practiced at a prior time in human society.

    It was necessary for them to rediscover fire, to relearn the basic laws of economics and rebuild civilization out of the ashes of ruin.

Cite this entry
APA

rediscover fire. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rediscover%20fire

MLA

“rediscover fire.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rediscover%20fire. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “rediscover fire,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rediscover%20fire.

Source: rediscover fire on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.