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Atone vs Recompense - What's the difference?

atone | recompense |

As verbs the difference between atone and recompense

is that atone is to make reparation, compensation, or amends, for an offence or a crime or a sin one has committed while recompense is to reward or repay (someone) for something done, given etc.

As a noun recompense is

an equivalent returned for anything given, done, or suffered; compensation; reward; amends; requital.

atone

English

Verb

(aton)
  • To make reparation, compensation, or amends, for an offence or a crime or a sin one has committed.
  • (proscribed) To clear (someone else) of wrongdoing, especially by standing as an equivalent.

    • Synonyms

    * (to make reparation) expiate, propitiate

    Derived terms

    () * atonable * atoneable * atonement * atoner

    Anagrams

    * * English words prefixed with at- ----

    recompense

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An equivalent returned for anything given, done, or suffered; compensation; reward; amends; requital.
  • That which compensates for an injury.
    • He offered money as recompense''' for the damage, but what the injured party wanted as '''recompense was an apology.

    Synonyms

    * * (l) * restitution

    Verb

    (recompens)
  • To reward or repay (someone) for something done, given etc.
  • * 1596 , Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene , IV.ii:
    • She in regard thereof him recompenst / With golden words, and goodly countenance, / And such fond fauours sparingly dispenst
  • * Shakespeare
    • He cannot recompense me better.
  • To give compensation for an injury.
    • The judge ordered the defendant to recompense the plaintiff by paying $100.
  • To give (something) in return; to pay back; to pay, as something earned or deserved.
  • * Bible, Rom. xii. 17
    • Recompense to no man evil for evil.