requite
requite
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "requite" is:
/rɪˈkwaɪt/
Here's a breakdown of the sounds by syllable:
re-: /rɪ/
/r/ - voiced alveolar approximant
/ɪ/ - near-close near-front unrounded vowel
-quite: /kwaɪt/
/kw/ - voiceless velar stop + voiced labiovelar approximant
/aɪ/ - diphthong (open front unrounded vowel moving to near-close near-front unrounded vowel)
/t/ - voiceless alveolar stop
Word Form Variations
Verb Forms:
requite: (base form)
requites: (third-person singular present)
requited: (past tense and past participle)
requiting: (present participle)
Related Word Forms:
requital: (noun) - the act of requiting; repayment or retaliation.
requiter: (noun) - one who requites.
requitable: (adjective) - capable of being requited.
requitement: (noun) - the act of requiting.
There are also less common archaic forms such as "requitful" and "requitless" which are adjective forms.
Therefore, "requite" primarily functions as a verb, and its variations reflect tense and participle forms. Additionally, it has related noun and adjective forms that extend its usage.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb: Requite
Definition 1: To repay or return something, whether it be a favor, kindness, or an injury.
Synonyms: repay, reciprocate, return, recompense, avenge, retaliate, reimburse.
Antonyms: withhold, keep, neglect, ignore, forgive.
Definition 2: To make a suitable return for (a favor, service, or wrongdoing).
Synonyms: reward, compensate, acknowledge, answer, settle.
Antonyms: penalize, deprive, take away.
Noun: Requital
Definition: The act of making repayment or return, especially for a favor, service, or injury.
Synonyms: repayment, recompense, retaliation, retribution, compensation, reciprocation.
Antonyms: forgiveness, pardon, loss, debt.
Noun: Requiter
Definition: A person who makes repayment or returns something.
Synonyms: repayer, reciprocator, avenger, compensator.
Antonyms: debtor, receiver, one who withholds.
Adjective: Requitable
Definition: Capable of being repaid or returned; deserving of requital.
Synonyms: repayable, compensable, retrievable, answerable.
Antonyms: irreparable, unredeemable, unforgivable.
Noun: Requitement
Definition: The act or process of requiting; a repayment or return.
Synonyms: compensation, repayment, reciprocation, return, amends.
Antonyms: loss, deprivation, lack.
Examples of Use
Literature:
"The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne: Classic literature often employs "requite" in its older, more formal sense, particularly when dealing with themes of justice and retribution.
Many of Shakespeare's works also use the word requite. This is because it was much more common in older english.
News and Online Publications:
When discussing emotional themes, especially "unrequited love," the word appears. For example, in articles discussing relationship dynamics in entertainment.
"Looks like the love Taylor Swift has for Grey's Anatomy is fully requited!" (Billboard) This is an example of requited love.
"Before [Steve Junga] was The Blade's inimitable authority on high school sports, he was a 7-year-old on the East Side in love with the Tigers, who in 1968 requited him by rallying from a three-games-to-one deficit against Bob Gibson and the Cardinals to win the World Series." — David Briggs, The Blade (Toledo, Ohio), 7 Apr. 2020.1 This is an example of a team requiting the love of a fan.
General Public Discourse:
The phrase "unrequited love" is perhaps the most common way "requite" enters general discourse. It's used in conversations about romantic feelings that are not returned.
In more formal or elevated speech, someone might say they wish to "requite a kindness" to express their desire to return a favor.
Key Observations:
"Requite" often carries a sense of formal or even archaic language.
The concept of "unrequited" is very common, especially when talking about love.
The definition of giving back in kind, weather that be good, or bad, is the key to understanding the word.
10 Famous Quotes Using Requite
"I am your own forever: to requite your love makes me most happy." — William Shakespeare, Othello
"Requite injury with justice, and kindness with kindness." — Confucius
"Love cannot be requited by force of arms, nor hatred quenched by gifts." — Thomas Fuller
"He that requites good for evil is as one that smiteth with a sword." — Proverbs 17:13 (Bible)
"If I can requite the kindness I have received, I shall count myself blessed." — Homer, The Odyssey
"The poor man’s gratitude hath often more warmth than the rich man’s requital." — Charles Dickens
"Requite not evil with evil, but overcome evil with good." — St. Paul, Romans 12:21
"A favor is half requited when kindly acknowledged." — George MacDonald
"The surest way to requite an injury is to forget it." — Publilius Syrus
"Heaven itself cannot requite the smallest good deed, but man must try." — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Etymology
The Short Story:
"Requite" essentially means "to pay back" or "to return." Its roots go deep into the past, tracing back to Old French and Latin.
The Longer Explanation:
Latin Roots:
The word originates from the Latin word "requitare," which meant "to repay" or "to return." This Latin word is itself a combination of "re-" (meaning "again" or "back") and "quitare" (meaning "to free, release, or discharge").
Old French Connection:
From Latin, "requitare" evolved into the Old French word "requiter," which also carried the meaning of "to repay" or "to return."
Middle English Arrival:
The word then entered Middle English as "requiten," retaining its core meaning.
First Known Use:
The first known use of "requite" in English dates back to the 14th century. So, it's been around for a long time!
Core Meaning:
The fundamental idea behind "requite" has always been about giving something back in return, whether it's a favor, a kindness, or even a punishment. It's about a reciprocal action.
In simpler terms:
Imagine you give someone a gift, and they give you a gift in return. That's essentially "requiting" the gift. Or, if someone does something bad to you, and you seek revenge, that's also a form of "requiting." It's all about that act of returning something.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Requite
"Requite" is not a word that readily lends itself to many common idioms or phrases. Its formal and somewhat archaic nature limits its everyday use in that way.
Here's why and what we can do:
Why "Requite" Isn't Idiomatic:
Formality: Idioms tend to be informal, capturing everyday speech. "Requite" is a more literary or formal term.
Specific Meaning: While "requite" is clear, it's not as versatile as words like "give," "take," or "do," which are frequently used in idioms.
What We Can Provide:
"Unrequited Love":
This is by far the most common phrase. It refers to love that is not returned.
Example: "He suffered from unrequited love for years."
"To Requite a Favor/Kindness/Injury":
This is a more literal use, but it's a standard phrase structure.
Example: "He sought to requite the kindness shown to him."
Phrases with Synonyms:
Instead of "requite," we can use synonyms like "repay" or "return" to create more common idioms:
"To repay in kind": This idiom means to return a favor or injury with a similar action.
"To return the favor": a very common idiom meaning to do something for someone who has done something for you.
"To give someone their just desserts": This idiom means to give someone the punishment they deserve.
Original Phrases:
"The requited glance": meaning a shared look of attraction.
"The requited debt": meaning a debt that has been repaid.
"Requited trust": meaning trust that has been returned.
Explanation:
While "requite" itself doesn't generate a rich set of idioms, the concept of requiting is central to many. The idea of reciprocity, of giving back what you've received, is a fundamental human concept. That's why we see so many idioms related to "repaying" or "returning" things.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of requite from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
