Wordsmiths: Is it recreate or re-create?

[many a good man]

If you want to create something again, is it Ok to say recreate or do you have to have the hyphen in there?

[Bucky]

1. You don't need a hyphen there, but make the context clear. The word does have a more common meaning.

You won't be shot if you hyphenate it or put the prefix in italics.

[many a good man]

2. I don't want to get shot!

But I don't want to get anal either. Its pretty clear in the context, but I just hate perpetuating bad English. I still feel a need to live up to my school spelling bee championship from 35 years ago!

[radwriter0555]

3. I would use the hyphen to clarify that it's not recreate, as in recreation

etc... blah blah blah.

Of course one doesn't use the form 'recreate' as in to take part in a recreational action much, now... does one?

"I say, shall we recreate at the park this afternoon?" doesn't roll off the tongue so much.....