Requited is the past tense of the verb re... to return a feeling or action: to repay, respond to, or reciprocate. In usage, it typically describes giving or feeling in return for something received, such as affection or a favor. The term conveys a mutual exchange and is frequently found in formal or literary contexts.
"She longed for love, and he finally requited her affection."
"The hero's courage was requited with a medal and gratitude."
"After their agreement, she felt her efforts were suitably requited."
"He wished that the kindness would be requited, though it rarely is."
Requited comes from the verb re- (again) + quaerere (to seek, to ask, to desire) from Latin. The Latin root quaerere evolves into Old French requiter (to requite), with the sense of returning a benefit or paying back. In Middle English the form was borrowed and adapted, aligning with the pattern of -ite/ -ite endings from Romance loanwords, and it stabilized in Modern English by the 16th century as requite in past tense form requited. The core sense—mutual return or repayment—retained throughout, distinguishing it from mere giving and aligning with moral or social reciprocity. Over time, requited often appears in literary or formal registers, especially in expressions of affection, gratitude, or martial/heroic reciprocity. First known use in English literature appears in the Early Modern period, with roots tracing back to translations of Latin or French legal and literary texts that discuss returning favors or rewards. In contemporary usage, it maintains a somewhat elevated tone, often used in poetry, formal prose, or historical contexts rather than colloquial speech.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Requited" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Requited"
-ted sounds
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Pronounce it as /rɪˈkwaɪ.tɪd/. The primary stress lands on the second syllable. Start with a soft 'ri' sound, then a strong 'k' leading into a long 'wy' diphthong (like 'why'). The final 'ted' becomes a light 'tid' with a short, crisp 'i' and a voiced 'd' at the end. Audio reference: [IPA guide: rɪˈkwaɪ.tɪd].
Common errors: mis-stressing the word (placing the stress on the first syllable), mispronouncing the 'kw' cluster as 'k-w' separately, and elongating the 'ed' ending into an extra syllable. Corrections: place primary stress on the second syllable 'KWY'; combine 'kw' into a single consonant cluster 'kw' as in 'queen' with a 'w' glide; end with a short, clipped 'tid' rather than 'tide-d'. Practice with slow pronunciation: rɪ-KWY-tɪd.
In US, UK, and AU, the key is the second-syllable vowel and rhoticity. All share /ɪ/ in the first syllable and /kw/ onset for the second; the main differences are the exact vowel quality: US often has a more pronounced rhotic /ɹ/ preceding the vowel in connected speech; UK tends to a non-rhotic flow, with slightly shorter vowel durations and crisper 't' in some regions; AU typically merges more with non-rhotic нoises and a flatter intonation; overall the primary syllable stress remains on 'KWY'.
The difficulty comes from the diphthong in the second syllable /Kwai/, which requires gliding from /k/ to /w/ into a schwa-like ending, plus the final /ɪd/ or /tɪd/ ending that must be clipped in fluent speech. The sequence r- + kw + ait requires precise tongue advancement and lip rounding. Keeping the second syllable prominent without overemphasizing the final 'ed' is key. IPA: rɪˈkwaɪ.tɪd.
In 'requited,' the initial 're-' is pronounced as the schwa-like 'ri' sound in American and British English, not as a long 'ray' or 're-'. The common pronunciation is /rɪˈkwaɪ.tɪd/, with a quick, unstressed 'ri' leading into the emphasized 'KWY' syllable. The 're' is not pronounced as a full 'ray' syllable; keep it short and unstressed to favor natural rhythm in fluent speech.
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