'rehearse' originates from Old French, specifically the word 'rehercier,' where 're-' meant 'again' and 'hercier' meant 'to harrow or rake.'

'rehercier' transformed into the Middle English word 'rehercen,' and eventually became the modern English word 'rehearse'.

Initially, it meant 'to go over again,' and over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'to practice or prepare for a performance.'