Reparation

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˌɹɛpəˈɹeɪʃən/

Definitions

1. The act of making amends for a wrong by providing compensation or restitution to those who were harmed
2. The process of compensating individuals or groups for damages or injustices suffered while also aiming to restore relationships that were affected by previous actions
3. A means of addressing historical grievances through financial or non-financial compensation to promote healing and reconciliation among affected parties

Etymology: "Reparation" comes from Latin "reparatio," a noun meaning a restoring or renewing, built from "reparare," "to prepare again" or "to restore." The Latin verb combines "re-," meaning "again" or "back," with "parare," meaning "to prepare, make ready, or obtain." So at its root the idea is of getting something ready once more, which is why the same family of words covers repairing a broken object as well as restoring a damaged state of affairs. English borrowed the word directly from Latin "reparatio," "reparationis," and it kept the sense of restoration for a long time before the modern meaning of payment for wrongs took over. The "payment" sense is the one most readers now encounter, especially in discussions of war and historical injustice, where it describes compensation owed for harm done. The word therefore moved from the workshop, where something is made whole again, to the courtroom and the peace treaty, where the making-whole is done with money.

Synonyms: compensation, amends, reimbursement, redress, restitution

Antonyms: penalty, fine, forfeiture