reward English · revision 5968

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1300|origins=xno rewarder}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /rɪˈwɔːd/, US /rɪˈwɔːrd/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English rewarden, [[bor|xno|rewarder|t=to regard, reward]], Old North French rewarder, a variant of Old French reguarder, regarder “to take notice of, watch over”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) from re-, here perhaps intensive, and warder “to look, heed, watch”,^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from a Germanic source, Frankish or another, from [[gem-pro|*wardōną|t=to guard]],^(Etymonline) from the PIE root [[ine-pro|*wer-|t=to perceive, watch out for]].^(Etymonline) The noun is from Anglo-French and Old North French reward, from the verb.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) Reward is thus a doublet of [[regard]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ As a verb, to grant or bestow: probably before 1300 in Barnhart, about 1300 in Etymonline.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) The noun first meant regard or consideration, before 1338, in Mannyng's ''Chronicle''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the 14th and 15th centuries reward was used in the senses now given to regard: to look at, care about, consider, and as a noun, notice, heed and esteem.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) It meant any requital, good or bad, for service or for evil-doing.^(Etymonline) To give as a prize or compensation is from the early 14th century, and to recompense from about 1350.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) As a noun, what one deserves is from the mid-14th century, and something given in return for a thing done from 1371 in Barnhart, the late 14th century in Etymonline, when it could also mean punishment.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) Money offered for the capture of a criminal or the return of lost property is from the 1590s;^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) Word Origins sees the notion of payment as a way of showing one's regard.^(Cresswell 2021) In northern and Yorkshire dialect reward meant to repay a loan.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1300 – to grant, bestow.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1338 – the noun, regard.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1350 – to recompense.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1371 – a recompense.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1590s – money offered for a criminal's capture.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Something given in return for good work, service or behaviour.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A sum of money offered for information about a criminal or for the return of lost property.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A satisfying result or benefit: ''the rewards of teaching''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(psychology)'' A pleasant [[stimulus]] that strengthens a response.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To give a reward to someone, or for something done.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To be worth doing or experiencing; to [[gratify]].^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[rewardable]]

+ * [[rewarder]]

+ * [[rewardableness]]

+ * [[rewardably]]

+ * [[rewardless]]

+ * [[superreward]]

+ * [[misreward]]

+ * [[overreward]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[award]]

+ * [[regard]]

+ * [[guard]]

+ * [[ward]]

+ * [[warden]]

+ * [[beware]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}