If you recompense someone for their efforts or their loss, you give them something, usually money, as a payment or reward. The fees offered by the NHS do not recompense dental surgeons for their professional time. to give someone a payment for trouble or losses that you have caused them, or a reward for their efforts to help you = compensate recompense sb for sth (récompenser, from compensare; COMPENSATE). something that you give to someone for trouble or losses that you have caused them, or as a reward for their help = compensation recompense for
If you are given something, usually money, in recompense, you are given it as a reward or because you have suffered. He demands no financial recompense for his troubles Substantial damages were paid in recompense
make amends for; pay compensation for; "One can never fully repair the suffering and losses of the Jews in the Third Reich"; "She was compensated for the loss of her arm in the accident"
[ 're-k&m-"pen(t)s ] (transitive verb.) 15th century. Middle English, from Middle French recompenser, from Late Latin recompensare, from Latin re- + compensare to compensate.