Requital
/rɪˈkwaɪtəl/noun
The act of repaying, returning, or giving in response to something done.
Did you know?Requital comes from the same Latin root as *quiet* and *acquit*—the ancient idea was not just “answering back,” but bringing something to a settled state.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*kʷey-
“to rest, be quiet, be at peace”
Latin
Latin
quies
“rest, quiet, repose”
Late Latin
Latin
requietare
“to calm, soothe, rest again”
Old French
Old French
requiter / requiter
“to repay, recompense”
Middle English
English
requiten
“to repay, return in kind”
Modern English
English
requital
“repayment, recompense, retaliation”