Past tense of reward; gave something desirable to someone in recognition of their service, effort, or achievement. Can also mean to experience a beneficial outcome as a result of one's actions.
From Anglo-Norman 'rewarder' meaning to regard or observe, from 're-' (back) and 'warder' (to guard). The meaning evolved from 'taking notice of' to 'giving something in return for good behavior' by the 14th century.
Psychological research shows that unexpected rewards are far more motivating than expected ones, a phenomenon called the 'reward prediction error' that explains why surprise bonuses feel better than regular salary. The concept of delayed gratification through rewards forms the basis of much human civilization and training.
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