mete — to give or dispense (punishment, reward, or treatment) as deserved
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to give or dispense (punishment, reward, or treatment) as deserved
Pronunciation (IPA): /miːt/
Example Sentences
- The principal decided to mete out detention to all students who participated in the food fight.
- The boss will mete out bonuses based on each employee's performance this year.
- Mother Nature metes out both sunshine and storms without favoritism.
mete
VERB[/miːt/]
to give or dispense (punishment, reward, or treatment) as deserved
While the greedy king hoarded all the food, the fair leader began to carefully mete out equal portions of bread to the hungry villagers.
METE(measure) — using a golden scale to perfectly METE(measure) the crime, the strict judge began to mete out the appropriate punishment.
Excited to meet the children and offer a delicious sweet, the kind baker began to safely mete out the hot cookies.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word derives from Old English 'metan', meaning 'to measure' or 'to allot'. In medieval usage, it referred specifically to the fair distribution of grain or land among people. The modern sense developed to mean the dispensation of justice or punishment in a measured, equitable manner.
Breakdown
Old English 'metan' (to measure, to allot) evolved into Middle English 'mete', with the semantic shift from physical measurement and distribution to the abstract notion of dispensing justice or punishment fairly.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The principal decided to mete out detention to all students who participated in the food fight.”
“The boss will mete out bonuses based on each employee's performance this year.”
“Mother Nature metes out both sunshine and storms without favoritism.”
📚Related Words
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