guerdon

[gur-dn]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR guerdon ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a reward, recompense, or requital.

verb (used with object)

to give a guerdon to; reward.

Origin of guerdon

1325–75; Middle English < Old French, variant of werdoun < Medieval Latin widerdonum, alteration (probably by association with Latin dōnum gift) of Old High German widarlōn, equivalent to widar again, back + lōn reward; cognate with Old English witherlēan

Related formsguer·don·er, nounguer·don·less, adjectiveun·guer·doned, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for guerdon

claim, right, reprisal, rate, need, comeuppance, prerogative, payment, interest, privilege, revenge, desert, perquisite, retribution, retaliation, compensation, recompense, repayment, reward, merits

Examples from the Web for guerdon

Historical Examples of guerdon

He came either to bring me aid or to seek mine, with vengeance for his guerdon.
The Shame of Motley
Raphael Sabatini
Our guerdon is shame in this world and condign punishment in the next.
The Life of Cesare Borgia
Raphael Sabatini
Is it for some vow of chivalry, or for that which is the guerdon of chivalry?'
Two Penniless Princesses
Charlotte M. Yonge
For this guerdon men have fought; for this they have even gladly died.
Masterpieces of Negro Eloquence
Various
But if there is honour for failure what shall be the guerdon of success?
What Is and What Might Be
Edmond Holmes

British Dictionary definitions for guerdon

guerdon

noun

a reward or payment

verb

(tr) to give a guerdon to

Derived Formsguerdoner, noun

Word Origin for guerdon

C14: from Old French gueredon, of Germanic origin; compare Old High German widarlōn, Old English witherlēan; final element influenced by Latin dōnum gift

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for guerdon

"reward, recompense" (now only poetic), late 14c., from Old French guerdon, guerredon "reward, recompense, payment," from Medieval Latin widerdonum, from Old High German widarlon "recompense;" cf. Old English wiðerlean "requital, compensation," from wiðer "again" (see with) + lean "payment." Form influenced in Medieval Latin by Latin donum "gift." Cf. Spanish galardon, Italian guiderone.