Recompense Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

๐Ÿ’ฐ
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recompense

[หˆrษ›kษ™mpษ›ns ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Noun

financial

Compensation or reward given for loss or harm suffered or effort made.

Synonyms

compensation, payment, reparation.

Examples of usage

  • He received a generous recompense for his hard work.
  • The company offered recompense to the victims of the accident.
Context #2 | Verb

formal

To make amends for loss or harm suffered. To reward or repay someone for effort or work.

Synonyms

compensate, remunerate, repay.

Examples of usage

  • The manager promised to recompense the employees for their overtime.
  • She wanted to recompense him for the damages caused.

Translations

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Interesting Facts

Legal Context

  • In law, recompense often refers to compensation for damages or injuries caused by negligence or wrongdoing.
  • Court cases sometimes involve recompense to restore the plaintiff to their original position when harmed.

Philosophy

  • In ethical discussions, recompense can relate to ideas of justice and fairness, focusing on restoring balance.
  • Many philosophies agree that recompense should involve genuine effort to right wrongs done to others.

Literature

  • In Shakespeare's plays, characters often seek recompense for wrongs, underlining themes of justice and morality.
  • Modern novels frequently explore emotional recompense, where characters seek to mend relationships after conflicts.

Cultural Practices

  • In some cultures, itโ€™s customary to offer recompense through gifts or apologies to maintain social harmony.
  • Festivals in various societies often feature rituals of recompense, celebrating resolutions of past conflicts.

Origin of 'recompense'

Main points about word origin

  • The word comes from the Latin 'recompensare', where 're-' means again and 'compensare' means to weigh together.
  • It has been a part of the English language since the late 14th century, used mainly in legal and financial contexts.

The word 'recompense' originated from the Old French word 'recompenser', which in turn came from the Latin word 'recompensare', meaning to reward or compensate. The concept of recompense has been present in various cultures throughout history, emphasizing the idea of giving back or compensating for something valuable or significant.


Word Frequency Rank

With rank #15,406, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.