Both Uses of
unrequited
in
Atlas Shrugged
- Your unrequited rectitude is the only hold they have upon you.†
Chpt 2.8 *unrequited = not returned or repaid
- Now I know that I shall never find you that it is not to be reached or lived-but what is left of my life is still yours, and I will go on in your name, even though it is a name I'll never learn, I will go on serving you, even though I'm never to win, I will go on, to be worthy of you on the day when I would have met you, even though I won't......She had never accepted hopelessness, but she stood at the window and, addressed to the shape of a fogbound city, it was her self-dedication to unrequited love.†
Chpt 2.9
Definitions:
-
(1)
(unrequited) not returned (typically of feelings -- as in unrequited love)
-
(2)
(meaning too rare to warrant focus) meaning too rare to warrant focus:
In classic literature as late as the 19th century, both requite and requited are used more than unrequited.
When not referring to returned feelings or other senses of return, requite may indicate a suitable non-cash repayment. To requite a wrong is to perform an act of revenge. To requite a kindness is to return a good deed.