- recompense (n.)
- late 14c. (recompensation), from Old French recompense (13c.), from Late Latin recompensare, from Latin re- "again" (see re-) + compensare "balance out," literally "weigh together" (see compensate).
- recompense (v.)
- c.1400, "to redress," from Middle French recompenser (14c.) and directly from Medieval Latin recompensare "to reward, remunerate" (see recompense (n.)). From early 15c. as "to compensate." Related: Recompensed; recompensing.