retribute

Latin retributus, past participle of retribuo (“I retribute”); prefix re- + tribuo (“I bestow, assign, pay”). See tribute.

• IPA^(key): /ˈɹɛtɹɪbjuːt/

retribute (third-person singular simple present retributes, present participle retributing, simple past and past participle retributed)

1. To pay back; to give in return, as payment, reward, or punishment; to requite.

   to retribute someone for their kindness

   to retribute just punishment to a criminal

   • 1691, [John Locke], Some Considerations of the Consequences of the Lowering of Interest, and Raising the Value of Money. […], London: […] Awnsham and John Churchill, […], published 1692, →OCLC:

     retribute to him, so far as calm reason and conscience dictate, what is proportionate to his transgression

• retribution

• retribute in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913

• butterier

retribūte

1. vocative masculine singular of retribūtus