n. 1 (often foll. by of) the act or an instance of restoring a thing to its proper owner. 2 reparation for an injury ( esp. make restitution). 3 esp. Theol. the restoration of a thing to its original state. 4 the resumption of an original shape or position because of elasticity. restitutive adj.
[ ME f. OF restitution or L restitutio f. restituere restitut- restore (as RE-, statuere establish) ]