Recompense is a word with an unusual spelling that may be confusing for some speakers of English. The IPA phonetic transcription of this word is /ˈrɛkəmpɛns/. The pronunciation of this word includes the short "e" sound followed by the "k" sound, then a vowel similar to the "o" in "hot". The final syllable includes the "s" sound followed by the short "e", and the stress falls on the second syllable. Despite its spelling, recompense is a commonly used term meaning to compensate or make amends for something.
Recompense refers to the act of compensating or repaying someone in return for a loss, injury, or service rendered. It is a noun that denotes any form of payment, reward, or restitution given to restore or make up for something that has been lost or suffered.
In a broader sense, recompense also encompasses the idea of compensation for an effort, endeavor, or service rendered. It implies the act of acknowledging and acknowledging the value of someone's work or contribution by providing them with something in return. This can include financial or non-financial rewards such as salary, bonuses, recognition, or promotions.
The concept of recompense is closely tied to the idea of justice, fairness, and balance. It is based on the belief that any imbalance or wrongdoing needs to be rectified or compensated for. Recompense serves as a way to restore equilibrium, repairing any harm done or making amends for past actions.
Furthermore, recompense implies a sense of reciprocity, as it denotes a transactional nature where value is exchanged for value. It is an essential element in maintaining relationships, trust, and mutual benefit in various contexts, including personal, professional, and legal matters.
Overall, recompense is a term that refers to the act of compensating or repaying someone, either in monetary or non-monetary terms, for a loss, injury, service, or efforts made. It embodies the principles of fairness, justice, and reciprocity in restoring balance and acknowledging the value of someone's contributions.
• To reward; to return an equivalent for some service; to remunerate; to repay or requite.
• The equivalent returned for anything given or done; compensation.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "recompense" originated from the Old French word "recompens", which was derived from the Latin word "recompensare". In Latin, "recompensare" was a combination of the prefix "re-" (meaning "back" or "again") and the verb "compensare" (meaning "to weigh" or "to balance"). This sense of weighing or balancing led to the meaning of "making amends" or "compensation" in both Old French and English. The word "recompense" has been used in English since the 14th century.