requite
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requite
- /ɹɪˈkwaɪt/ UK
- /ɹəˈkwaɪt/ US
- /ɹi-/ US
Rhymes with -aɪt
Where it comes from
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 requites · requiting · requited · requite
- To repay (a debt owed); specifically, to recompense or reward someone for (a favour, a service rendered, etc.) But remember / (For that's my buſineſſe to you) that you three / From Millaine did ſupplant good Proſpero, / Expos'd vnto the Sea (vvhich hath requit it) / Him, and his innocent childe: for vvhich foule deed, / The Povvres, delaying (not forgetting) haue / Incens'd the Seas, and Shores; yea, all the
- To repay (someone) a debt owed; specifically, to recompense or reward (someone) for a favour, a service rendered, etc. Sir I am ſo poore to requite you, you muſt looke for nothing but thankes of me, […]
- To respond to or reciprocate (feelings, especially affection or love which has been shown). My loue is requyted ſo louyngly / That in euery thyng that may delyght my mynde, / My wyt can not wyſhe it ſo well as I fynde
- To do or give a thing in return for (something).
-
To retaliate or seek revenge for (an insult, a wrong, etc.).; to avenge.
Let me this craue, ſith firſt I vvas defyde, / That firſt I may that vvrong to him requite: / And if I hap to fayle, you ſhall recure my right.
Similar: avenge, even the score, get back at, get one's own back, retaliate, settle the score, take revenge, tar out
- To retaliate or seek revenge against (someone) for an insult, a wrong, etc.; also (reflexive, rare), to seek revenge for (oneself). My Gratious Lord, not ſo much for the iniury hée offred me héere in your preſence, as to delight you with ſome mirth, hath Fauſtus worthily requited this iniurious knight, which being all I deſire, I am content to releaſe him of his hornes: […]
- To greet (someone) in return. They him ſaluted ſtanding far afore; / VVho vvell them greeting, humbly did requight, / And asked, to vvhat end they clomb that tedious hight.
- To make up for (something); to compensate.
- To respond to (a question, a statement, etc.). Jeſus […] requited their queſtion vvith an other, as though a man ſhoulde dryue out one nayle vvith an other.
- To take the place of (someone or something); to replace. [For if] tranſmutation be made from one mans body into another, as if a piece of fleſh be exchanged from the biciptall muſcle of either parties arme, and about them both, an Alphabet circumſcribed; upon a time appointed as ſome conceptions affirme, they may communicate at vvhat diſtance ſoever. For
- Of an action, a quality, etc.: to be a reward for (itself). 'Tis all vve beg thee, to conceal from Sight / Thoſe Acts of Goodneſs, vvhich themſelves requite.
- To recompense, to repay.
- To retaliate, to seek revenge. […] Chriſt and his holy apoſtles, exhort euery man to pacience and ſufferance, without requiting of an euil dede or making anye defence but vſing further ſufferance, & doyng alſo good for euill, […]
noun
- Chiefly in the form in requite for or of: synonym of requital (“compensation for damage or loss; return in kind, recompense, repayment, reward”).
Translations
Every language
verb (transitive) to repay (a debt owed); to recompense or reward someone for (a favour, a service rendered, etc.); to repay (someone) a debt owed; to recompense or
| Português | corresponder |
|---|---|
| Français | réciproquer, rendre la pareille |
| Deutsch | belohnen, erwidern |
| Русский | отпла́чивать otpláčivatʹ, вознаграждать voznagraždatʹ |
verb (transitive) to respond to or reciprocate (feelings, especially affection or love which has been shown)
| Español | corresponder a, reciprocar |
|---|
Talk about this word "requite." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/requite. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. requite. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/requite "requite." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/requite.Cite this
@misc{requite_2026,
title = {requite},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/requite},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
