recompense English · revision 1178

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈɹɛkəmˌpɛns/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It comes from Middle English ''recompensen'',^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) [[der|frm|recompenser]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[der|la-lat|recompensare]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[af|la|re-|compenso|t1=again|t2=to balance out, compensate]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) Latin ''compensare'' is literally “to weigh together”, from ''pendere'' “to weigh; to pay”.^(Etymonline) It is related to [[compensate]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ As a verb, to redress or provide an equivalent (before 1400);^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) as a noun, payment, reward or amends (about 1420).^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ By the early 15th century the verb meant to reward or repay someone for services, losses or wrongs (1422).^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The noun has covered amends for a wrong (about 1420), compensation for a loss (1508), payment for services (1500–20) and, less often, retribution (1538).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) The OED notes that the spelling ''-ence'' was more common than ''-ense'' until the 19th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1400 – verb, to redress.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * about 1420 – noun, amends or reward.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1422 – verb, to reward or repay.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1508 – noun, compensation for a loss.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1538 – noun, retribution.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To give [[compensation]] to someone, as for a service or a loss; to [[repay]] or [[reward]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To make up or pay for something, such as damage or injury.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To return in kind; to [[requite]].^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # Amends made for damage, injury or loss.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Payment in return for something, such as a service; a reward.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[recompensable]]

+ * [[recompenser]]

+ * [[unrecompensed]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[compensate]]

+ * [[recompensate]]

+ * [[pension]]

+ * [[pound]]

+ * [[ponder]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Random House lists ''reimburse'' and ''recoup'' as synonyms of the verb, and ''payment'', ''amends'', ''indemnification'' and ''satisfaction'' of the noun, and refers to its discussion at ''reward''.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}