English edit

Etymology edit

Jocular formation from re- and discombobulate.

Verb edit

recombobulate (third-person singular simple present recombobulates, present participle recombobulating, simple past and past participle recombobulated)

  1. (transitive, uncommon) To cause to think clearly again; to reorient; to put back into working order.
    • 1992, Natty Bumppo Lonely Hearts
      Please allow me to recombobulate you. Your portrait “Oneside of Natty” frightens me as much as Amy’s sketch.
    • 2002 April 14, Jeff Westbrook, “The 30% Iron Chef”, Futurama, season 3, episode 22, Fox Broadcasting Company
      Zoidberg: Aw, I’ll never recombobulate this ship!
    • 2011, Nicole Peeler, Eye of the Tempest: Jane True Series: Book Four, unnumbered page:
      I was watching the little birdies fly in front of my eyes, so it took me a second to re-combobulate myself.
  2. (intransitive) To (come to) think clearly again; to reorient oneself; to get (oneself) back into working order.
    • 2005, Stephin Merritt, The Paris Review Book of People with Problems
      You need a little time to recombobulate is all.
    • 2010 September 13, Rumpelstiltskin, “Bashing Bush and Boehner Won’t Work”, in soc.retirement (Usenet):
      Luckily I was in the car when I drove in, so I had time to recombobulate before I got out, and didn't make any comment about the bible verses.
    • 2011, Dena Mendes, A Survivor's Guide to Kicking Cancer's Ass, page 99:
      Before I talk about specific tips to recombobulate, I want to emphasize something: We are so much more than doctors tell us we are.

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