requital

American  

[ri-kwahyt-l] / rɪˈkwaɪt l /

noun

1. the act of requiting.

2. a return or reward for service, kindness, etc.

3. a retaliation for a wrong, injury, etc.

4. something given or done as repayment, reward, punishment, etc., in return.

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requital British  

/ rɪˈkwaɪtəl /

noun

1. the act or an instance of requiting

2. a return or compensation for a good or bad action

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Other Word Forms

• nonrequital
  noun
• unrequital
  noun

Etymology

Origin of requital

First recorded in 1570–80; requite + -al ²

Explanation

When you pay someone back or return their favor, that's requital. Your friend might insist that no requital is necessary for the cookies she gives you, but you may want to bake cupcakes for her tomorrow anyway. Use requital for the sincere return of a favor, like going to your brother's band concert after he's dutifully attended your poetry reading. You can also use it for retribution for a wrong that's been done: "As requital for the Silly String attack, she put a whoopie cushion on her classmate's chair." Requital comes from requite, which is based in the Middle English root quite, "clear or pay up."

Example Sentences

This nonsense gradually infected everything and the consequence was an underestimate which subsequently bought the bitterest requital.

From Time Magazine Archive

In requital, if you'll come to Growlers' Gully, where I'm hanging out, I can lay you on to a "show," as we miners call it, that may turn out something good.'

From Nevermore by Bolderwood, Rolf

Both were impetuous by nature, and rash in their actions, and both came upon the field longing for vengeance in requital of wrongs which each supposed he had received at the hands of the other.

From The Cavaliers of Virginia, vol. 1 of 2 or, The Recluse of Jamestown; An historical romance of the Old Dominion by Caruthers, William A. (Alexander)

The masses have a dim idea that every evil deed meets with requital and express it in the proverb that "Though the mills of God grind slowly, yet they grind exceeding small."

From Morals and the Evolution of Man by Nordau, Max Simon

Thou hast remembered thine oath unto me, my King; thou hast published thyself as ready to fulfil thy promise, and hast yielded unto me the choice of the manner of my requital!

From Saul of Tarsus A Tale of the Early Christians by Miller, Elizabeth