Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “requite” come from?

Requite comes from Middle English requiten, from Old French requiter, meaning to repay or return.

requite (English): To return that has been given; to repay; to...

Definitions

  1. To return that has been given; to repay; to...

Ancestry of “requite”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishrequitento repay
2Old Frenchquitterto liberate; to free
3Old Frenchquittefree; liberated
4Latinquiētus—
5Latinquiēscō—
6Latinquiēs—
7Proto-Italickʷiētis—
8Proto-Indo-Europeankʷyéh₁tis—
9Proto-Indo-Europeankʷyeh₁-to rest; rest, peace

Words derived from “requite”

  • unrequitable
  • requiter
  • requitement
  • requitable
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kʷyeh₁- →