[ret.ri.bu.tion] n [ME retribucioun, fr. MF retribution, fr. LL retribution-, retributio, fr. L retribuere to pay back, fr. re- + tribuere to pay--more at tribute] (14c) 1: recompense, reward
2: the dispensing or receiving of reward or punishment esp. in the hereafter
3: something given or exacted in recompense; esp: punishment