retrace
UK: rɪˈtreɪs | US: rɪˈtreɪs
vt. 1. To go back over the same path or steps.
vt. 2. To recall or revisit past events or memories.
vt. 3. To recreate or reproduce a line or pattern by following its original path.
The word "retrace" combines the prefix "re-" (from Latin, meaning "again" or "back") with the root "trace" (from Old French "tracer," meaning "to follow a path"). The term originally referred to physically following a path backward but later expanded metaphorically to include revisiting memories or reconstructing actions. The logic is straightforward: "re-" implies repetition, and "trace" implies following, creating the sense of "following again."
She retraced her steps to find the lost keys.
The detective retraced the suspect’s movements on the night of the crime.
He retraced his childhood memories while visiting his hometown.
The artist retraced the outline to correct the drawing.
To solve the puzzle, you must retrace your earlier decisions.