early 15c., "revive, restore," from Latin resuscitatus, past participle of resuscitare "rouse again, revive," from re- "again" (see re-) + suscitare "to raise, revive," from sub "(up from) under" (see sub-) + citare "to summon" (see cite). Intransitive use from 1650s. Related: Resuscitated; resuscitating. Earlier was resuscen "restore (someone) to life, resurrect" (c. 1400).