Meaning

noun a recompense for worthy acts or retribution for wrongdoing

noun payment made in return for a service rendered

noun an act performed to strengthen approved behavior

originFrom Middle English rewarden, from Anglo-Norman rewarder (“to reward”), from re- + warder (“to guard, keep”), from Old Northern French [Term?], from Frankish *wardōn (“to guard, keep”), from Proto-Germanic *wardōną (“to guard, defend”), from Proto-Indo-European *wer- (“to cover, shelter, defend, guard, shut”). Cognate with Old Saxon wardōn (“to guard, provide for, protect”), Old English weardian…

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0