requite
/ɹɪˈkwaɪt/
"requite" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“requite” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a verb. The kind of spelling people second-guess.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency English
- 7
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - To repay (a debt owed); specifically, to recompense or reward someone for (a favour, a service rendered, etc.)
Corpus desk
Index EN-requite · requite · English
requite · unranked · 0 variants · 0 confusables
- FREQ-UNRANKED Unranked
- LEN-LONG 7 letters
- VOW-4 4 vowels
- CONFUS-0 No pairs
- VAR-0 0 variants
- BOOK-THIN "R" thin
- PHOTO-UNK Peer pending
Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern
Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | requite |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Verb |
| IPA | /ɹɪˈkwaɪt/ |
| Letters | 7 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Long-tail rank of “requite” in English
Rare enough to double-check
requite is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as averb, transcribed /ɹɪˈkwaɪt/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 13 senses are on record.
requite doesn't appear in our generated misspelling index, since its letter sequence doesn't invite the usual edit-distance slips. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, suggesting its spelling stands apart enough that readers rarely confuse it with something else.
Etymologically, the entry records: 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 (onesel… The correct English form is requite, spelled R-E-Q-U-I-T-E.
Definition
- 1To repay (a debt owed); specifically, to recompense or reward someone for (a favour, a service rendered, etc.)
- 2To repay (someone) a debt owed; specifically, to recompense or reward (someone) for a favour, a service rendered, etc.
- 3To respond to or reciprocate (feelings, especially affection or love which has been shown).
- 4To do or give a thing in return for (something).
- 5To retaliate or seek revenge for (an insult, a wrong, etc.).; to avenge.
- 6To retaliate or seek revenge against (someone) for an insult, a wrong, etc.; also (reflexive, rare), to seek revenge for (oneself).
- 7To greet (someone) in return.
- 8To make up for (something); to compensate.
- 9To respond to (a question, a statement, etc.).
- 10To take the place of (someone or something); to replace.
- 11Of an action, a quality, etc.: to be a reward for (itself).
- 12To recompense, to repay.
- 13To retaliate, to seek revenge.
Recorded use
Wiktionary examplesThese source excerpts show how requite appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.
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: […]
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.
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.
This word in other languages
Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.