requite

C2 Topic:Ethics & Social Judgment

US /rɪˈkwaɪt/ UK /rɪˈkwaɪt/ See IPA manual

Freq #69038

Meanings

1

verb
formal: to return or reciprocate a feeling, kindness, or service

She loved him deeply, but he could not requite her affection.
2

verb
formal: to reward or repay someone for a benefit, service, or injury

The ruler requited the guide's loyal service with a grant of land.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · formal: to return or... reciprocate return repay

2 verb · formal: to reward or repay... recompense reward repay

Opposites

spurn withhold disregard

Word family

Forms requitedrequitesrequiting

Derived forms requitalrequiterrequitementunrequited

Related forms reciprocate recompense repaymentunrequited

Etymology

From Middle English requiten, formed from re- ('back, in return') + obsolete quite, a variant of quit. Quite and quit came through Old French quitter, 'release or settle a debt,' ultimately from Latin quietus, 'at rest or free.' The sense developed from settling an obligation to returning a feeling or deed.

Topics

Ethics & Social Judgment

External links

# requite

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /rɪˈkwaɪt/
**IPA (UK):** /rɪˈkwaɪt/
**Frequency rank:** 69038

## Meanings
1. formal: to return or reciprocate a feeling, kindness, or service
2. formal: to reward or repay someone for a benefit, service, or injury

## Examples
- She loved him deeply, but he could not requite her affection.
- The ruler requited the guide's loyal service with a grant of land.

## Synonyms
- reciprocate
- return
- repay
- recompense
- reward

## Antonyms
- spurn
- withhold
- disregard

## Derived Forms
- requital
- requiter
- requitement
- unrequited

## Related Forms
- reciprocate
- recompense
- repayment
- unrequited

## Etymology
From Middle English requiten, formed from re- ('back, in return') + obsolete quite, a variant of quit. Quite and quit came through Old French quitter, 'release or settle a debt,' ultimately from Latin quietus, 'at rest or free.' The sense developed from settling an obligation to returning a feeling or deed.

## Topics
- Ethics & Social Judgment

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