Past tense of repay, meaning to pay back money that was borrowed or to return a favor or kindness. To give back in return for something received.
From 're-' (back, again) + 'pay', where 'pay' comes from Old French 'paier', from Latin 'pacare' meaning 'to pacify, satisfy'. The concept of 'paying back' developed from the idea of settling or satisfying a debt. The word embodies the reciprocal nature of human economic and social relationships.
The phrase 'no good deed goes unpunished' humorously contrasts with the ideal that kindness should be repaid, highlighting how humans have a deep psychological need for reciprocity that spans both financial and emotional debts. Anthropologists suggest that the ability to track and repay debts - both monetary and social - was crucial to the development of complex human societies.
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