requite

Etymology

The verb is derived from Middle English requiten (“to repay”), and then partly from both of the following: * From re- (prefix meaning ‘again; back, backward’) + quiten (“to pay, pay for; to repay; to acquit (someone of a charge), exonerate; to prove (oneself) innocent; to answer, reply; to atone for (a sin); to compensate, make amends; to depart, leave; to equal, match; to fulfil (an obligation); to give back, return; to give up, relinquish; to release, set free; to render (a service); to reward; to give retribution, take revenge”) (from Old French quitter (“to free, liberate”) (modern French quitter), from quitte (“free, liberated”) + -er (suffix forming verbs)). Quitte is derived from Latin quiētus (“at rest; quiet”), the perfect passive participle of quiēscō (“to repose, rest; to sleep; to be quiet or still”), from quiēs (“rest, repose; sleep; calm, peace, quiet”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kʷyeh₁- (“to rest; peace, rest”)) + -scō (suffix forming verbs with the sense ‘to begin to do [something]’). * From Old French requiter, requitter (“to free or liberate again”), from re- (prefix meaning ‘again’) + quitter (see above). The noun is derived from the verb.

verb

1. (transitive)
   1. To repay (a debt owed); specifically, to recompense or reward someone for (a favour, a service rendered, etc.)
      He that requiteth a good turne, muſt imploy ſomevvhat of his ovvne, as he doth vvho repayeth the monie he ovveth: but he layeth out nothing vvho ſatisfieth himſelfe, no more then he giueth, vvho giueth to himſelfe. […] He therefore that requiteth a good turne pleaſureth him againe, from vvhom hee hath receiued any thing. 1614, Lucius Annæus Seneca [i.e., Seneca the Younger], “Of Benefits. The First Book. Chapter XI.”, in Tho[mas] Lodge, transl., The Workes of Lucius Annæus Seneca, both Morrall and Naturall, London: […] William Stansby, →OCLC, page 100
      Good cryptographists are rare indeed; and thus their services, although seldom required, are necessarily well requited. 1841 July, Edgar A[llan] Poe, “A Few Words on Secret Writing”, in George R[ex] Graham, Rufus W[ilmot] Griswold, editors, Graham’s Lady’s and Gentleman’s Magazine.[…], volume XIX, number 1, Philadelphia, Pa.: George R. Graham, →OCLC, page 35, column 2
   2. To repay (someone) a debt owed; specifically, to recompense or reward (someone) for a favour, a service rendered, etc.
   3. To respond to or reciprocate (feelings, especially affection or love which has been shown).
      To love thee boundless, was my bold resolve, / Because my courage fail'd to equal thee. / I then began with thousand tender arts / And pure fraternal love, thy heart to storm. / But cold, proud soul, requitedst thou this love. 1843, Friedrich Schiller, translated by I. Towler, Don Carlos: Infante of Spain. A Dramatic Poem.[…], Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg: Francis Nöldeke, →OCLC, act I, scene ii, page 11
   4. To do or give a thing in return for (something).
   5. To retaliate or seek revenge for (an insult, a wrong, etc.).; to avenge.
   6. To retaliate or seek revenge against (someone) for an insult, a wrong, etc.; also (reflexive, rare), to seek revenge for (oneself).
   7. (obsolete)
      1. To greet (someone) in return.
      2. To make up for (something); to compensate.
      3. To respond to (a question, a statement, etc.).
         He bowed slightly to K.'s uncle, who appeared very flattered to make this new acquaintance, yet, being by nature incapable of expressing obligation, requited the Clerk of the Court's words with a burst of embarrassed but raucous laughter. 1935, Franz Kafka, “K.’s Uncle—Leni”, in Willa Muir, Edwin Muir, E[liza] M[arian] Butler, transl., The Trial, definitive edition, London: Secker and Warburg, published 1956 (1977 printing), pages 118–119
      4. To take the place of (someone or something); to replace.
      5. (reflexive) Of an action, a quality, etc.: to be a reward for (itself).
2. (intransitive)
   1. To recompense, to repay.
   2. To retaliate, to seek revenge.

noun

1. Chiefly in the form in requite for or of: synonym of requital (“compensation for damage or loss; return in kind, recompense, repayment, reward”)