# requite

> English word · Verb · IPA /ɹɪˈkwaɪt/

## Definitions
1. To repay (a debt owed); specifically, to recompense or reward someone for (a favour, a service rendered, etc.)
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).
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. To greet (someone) in return.
8. To make up for (something); to compensate.
9. To respond to (a question, a statement, etc.).
10. To take the place of (someone or something); to replace.
11. Of an action, a quality, etc.: to be a reward for (itself).
12. To recompense, to repay.
13. To retaliate, to seek revenge.

## 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.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/requite