Where does “requital” come from?

Requital comes from Middle English requite, meaning to repay or make return, though its ultimate origin remains uncertain.

requital (English): Compensation for loss or damage; amends;...

Definitions

  1. Compensation for loss or damage; amends;...

Ancestry of “requital”, step by step

requital traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English requite

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishrequiteTo return that has been given; to repay; to...
2Middle Englishrequitento repay
3Old Frenchquitterto liberate; to free
4Old Frenchquittefree; liberated
5Latinquiētusat rest/nap, quiet, keeping quiet, quietude, quietness
6Latinquiēscōto rest, sleep, repose
7Latinquiēsthe rest of sleep, repose
8Proto-Italickʷiētis
9Proto-Indo-Europeankʷyéh₁tis
10Proto-Indo-Europeankʷyeh₁-to rest; rest, peace

via English AL

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishALInitialism of assembly language; Initialism of...
2Dutchalall, all of; already; yet
3Middle Dutchalall, all of; completely; even though, no matter...
4Old Dutchāl
5Proto-West Germanicallall
6Proto-Germanicallazall
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂él-to grow, nourish

Words derived from “requital

Every word from Proto-Indo-European kʷyeh₁-
requital — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer