reward

 

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reward

Wikipedia

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ɹɪˈwɔːd/, /ɹəˈwɔːd/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ɹɪˈwɔɹd/, /ɹəˈwɔɹd/, /ɹiˈwɔɹd/
• (obsolete) IPA^(key): /ɹɪˈwɑː(ɹ)d/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɔː(ɹ)d

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 (“to reward”) (compare Old French reguarder), from re- + warder (“to guard, keep”) (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.

Mostly displaced Old English mēd, whence Modern English meed. Displaced Old English lēan and edlēan.

reward (plural rewards)

1. Something of value given in return for an act.

   Synonyms: payment, recompense, tithing, meed

   Antonym: punishment

   For catching the thief, you'll get a nice reward.

2. A prize promised for a certain deed or catch

   Synonym: bounty

   The rewards for bringing in badly wanted criminals are printed on 'dead or alive' posters.

3. The result of an action, whether good or bad.

   Synonym: consequence

   Is this the reward I get for telling the truth: to be put in jail?

   • 2013 January 22, Phil McNulty, “Aston Villa 2-1 Bradford (3-4)”, in BBC‎^[1]:

     Christian Benteke's first-half goal was just reward for Villa's undoubted superiority but Bradford managed to survive without further damage until half-time, before scoring the goal that takes them to Wembley for the first time since 1996.

From Middle English rewarden, from Anglo-Norman rewarder (“to reward”), from re- + warder (“to guard, keep”), from Old Northern French [Term?], from Frankish *wardōn (“to guard, keep”), 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 guard”), Old High German wartēn (“to watch, keep, look after”). More at ward. Piecewise doublet of regard.

Displaced Old English lēanian. In this sense, displaced Old English ġieldan, whence Modern English yield.

reward (third-person singular simple present rewards, present participle rewarding, simple past and past participle rewarded)

2. (transitive) To give a reward to or for.

   Why are you rewarding the child for misbehaving?

   Why are you rewarding that bad behaviour?

3. (transitive) To recompense.

   Decorations are meant to reward the most meritous acts and services.

   • 2011 September 2, Phil McNulty, “Bulgaria 0-3 England”, in BBC:

     The Italian opted for Bolton's Cahill alongside captain John Terry - and his decision was rewarded with a goal after only 13 minutes. Bulgaria gave a hint of defensive frailties to come when they failed to clear Young's corner, and when Gareth Barry found Cahill in the box he applied the finish past Nikolay Mihaylov.

4. (obsolete, transitive) To give (something) as a reward.
   • 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, “xxvj”, in Le Morte Darthur, book IV (in Middle English):

     Thenne syr Marhaus departed and within two dayes his damoysel brought hym where as was a grete tornement that the lady de Vawse has cryed
     […]
     And there syr Marhaus dyd so nobly that he was renomed
     & had somtyme doune fourty knyghtes
     and soo the serklet of gold was rewarded hym

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 Samuel 24:17:

     Thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.

• award

• James A. H. Murray et al., editors (1884–1928), “Reward, sb.¹”, in A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (Oxford English Dictionary), volume VIII, Part 1 (Q–R), London: Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 620.
• James A. H. Murray et al., editors (1884–1928), “† Reward, sb.²”, in A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (Oxford English Dictionary), volume VIII, Part 1 (Q–R), London: Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 620, column 3.
• James A. H. Murray et al., editors (1884–1928), “Reward, v.”, in A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (Oxford English Dictionary), volume VIII, Part 1 (Q–R), London: Clarendon Press, →OCLC, pages 620–621.
• James A. H. Murray et al., editors (1884–1928), “† Rewa·rd, pa. pple.”, in A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (Oxford English Dictionary), volume VIII, Part 1 (Q–R), London: Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 621, column 1.
• “reward”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• “reward”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.

• Warder, drawer, redraw, warder, warred