requite
/icons/point.icon RECIPROCATE, RETALIATE, REQUITE, RETURN mean to give back usually in kind or in quantity.
RECIPROCATE implies a mutual or equivalent exchange or a paying back of what one has received.
e.g. reciprocated their hospitality by inviting them for a visit
RETALIATE usually implies a paying back of injury in exact kind, often vengefully.
e.g. the enemy retaliated by executing their prisoners
REQUITE implies a paying back according to one's preference and often not equivalently.
e.g. requited her love with cold indifference
RETURN implies a paying or giving back.
e.g. returned their call return good for evil
verb with object formal
make appropriate return for (a favor, service, or wrongdoing):
｟かたく｠ «…で» …に報いる, 返礼をする; …に報復する «with»
e.g. they are quick to requite a kindness.
return a favor to (someone):
e.g. to win enough to requite my friends.
respond to (love or affection); return:
e.g. she did not requite his love.
DERIVATIVES
requital |rəˈkwīdl| noun
ORIGIN
early 16th century: from re- ‘back’ + obsolete quite, variant of the verb quit1.