Word: requite Part of Speech: verb 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. Pronunciation: /ɹɪˈkwaɪt/, /ɹəˈkwaɪt/, /ɹi-/ 1. To repay (a debt owed); specifically, to recompense or reward someone for (a favour, a service rendered, etc.) Labels: transitive Example: 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 Creatures / Againſt your peace: […] Example: 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. 2. To repay (someone) a debt owed; specifically, to recompense or reward (someone) for a favour, a service rendered, etc. Labels: transitive Example: Sir I am ſo poore to requite you, you muſt looke for nothing but thankes of me, […] Example: This place, to vvhich Ariſtotle ovv'd his birth, he aftervvards requited vvith extraordinary gratitude. 3. To respond to or reciprocate (feelings, especially affection or love which has been shown). Labels: transitive Example: 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 Example: 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. 4. To do or give a thing in return for (something). Labels: transitive 5. To retaliate or seek revenge for (an insult, a wrong, etc.).; to avenge. Labels: transitive Example: 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. Example: And when Joſephs brethren ſaw that their father was dead, they ſaid, Joseph will peraduenture hate vs, and will certainely requite vs all the euill which we did vnto him. 6. To retaliate or seek revenge against (someone) for an insult, a wrong, etc.; also (reflexive, rare), to seek revenge for (oneself). Labels: transitive Example: 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: […] Example: [B]y kindling a fire in each Image, they made ſuch a ſmoke that the Indians vvounded & ſlevv many Tartars, vvho could not ſee to requite them [i.e., themselves] through the ſmoke: […] 7. To greet (someone) in return. Labels: obsolete, transitive Example: They him ſaluted ſtanding far afore; / VVho vvell them greeting, humbly did requight, / And asked, to vvhat end they clomb that tedious hight. Example: Lovvly they him ſaluted in meeke vviſe, / But he through pride and fatnes gan deſpiſe / Their meaneſſe; ſcarce vouchſafte them to requite. 8. To make up for (something); to compensate. Labels: obsolete, transitive 9. To respond to (a question, a statement, etc.). Labels: obsolete, transitive Example: Jeſus […] requited their queſtion vvith an other, as though a man ſhoulde dryue out one nayle vvith an other. Example: 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. 10. To take the place of (someone or something); to replace. Labels: obsolete, transitive Example: [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 if the one ſhall prick himſelf in A, the other at the ſame time vvill have a ſenſe thereof in the ſame part; […] vvhich is a vvay of intelligence very ſtrange, and vvould requite the Arte of Pythagoras; vvho could read a reverſe in the Moone. Example: This Roman Hierarchy ſhall be Politically killed, deveſted of all Povver and Authority: From vvhence vvill naturally flovv Mourning and Famine, grief of heart, vvith ſcarcity and poverty to requite their luxury before. 11. Of an action, a quality, etc.: to be a reward for (itself). Labels: obsolete, reflexive, transitive Example: 'Tis all vve beg thee, to conceal from Sight / Thoſe Acts of Goodneſs, vvhich themſelves requite. Example: [T]o have saved you requites itself. We who walk the greenwood do many a wild deed, and the Lady Rowena's deliverance may be received as an atonement. 12. To recompense, to repay. Labels: intransitive 13. To retaliate, to seek revenge. Labels: intransitive Example: […] 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, […] Example: Becauſe the ſpoiler is come vpon her, euen vpon Babylon, and her mightie men are taken, euery one of their vowes is broken, for the Lord God of recompenſes ſhall ſurely requite.