reward

Meanings

Noun

• Something of value given in return for an act.
• A prize promised for a certain deed or catch
• The result of an action, whether good or bad.

Verb

• To give a reward to or for.
• To recompense.
• To give (something) as a reward.

Origin

• From Middle English reward, rewarde, from Old French reward ("reward") (compare Old French regard, whence modern French regard, and also English regard through Middle French), from rewarder (compare Old French reguarder), from re- + warder (compare Old French guarder); the Anglo-Norman forms are derived from Old Northern French variants of Old French, ultimately of Germanic (Frankish) origin. Compare regard, warden, guard. See more below.
• Displaced native Middle English lean ("reward"), from Old English lēan ("reward"); Middle English schipe, schepe, from Old English scipe ("wages, payment, reward"). Partially displaced Middle English meed, mede, from Old English mēd ("reward, meed, recompense").
• From Middle English rewarden, from Anglo-Norman rewarder ("to reward") (compare Old French reguarder, whence modern French regarder, also English regard through Middle French), from re- + warder, from Old Northern French, from Frankish *wardēn, from Proto-Germanic *wardōną ("to guard, defend"), from Proto-Indo-European *wer- ("to cover, shelter, defend, guard, shut"). Cognate with Old Saxon wardōn ("to guard, provide for, protect"), Old English weardian ("to watch, guard, keep"), Old High German wartēn ("to watch, keep, look after"). More at ward.