Origin: 1325–75; ME < OF, var. of werdoun < ML widerdonum, alter. (prob. by assoc. with L dōnum gift) of OHG widarlōn, equiv. to widar again, back + lōn reward; c. OE witherlēan
"reward, recompense" (now only poetic), 1366, from O.Fr. guerdon, from M.L. widerdonum, from O.H.G. widarlon, c.f. O.E. wiðerlean, from wiðer "again" + lean "payment." Form infl. in M.L. by L. donum "gift."
[gur-dn] 
