Guerdon, n.
Etymology: [OF. guerdon, guerredon, LL. widerdonum (influenced by L. donum gift, cf. Donation ), fr. OHG. widarl; widar again, against (G. wider wieder) + lon reward, G. lohn, akin to AS. leán Goth. laun. See Withers.]
A reward; requital; recompense; -- used in both a good and a bad sense. Macaulay. So young as to regard men's frown or smile As loss or guerdon of a glorious lot. Byron. He shall, by thy revenging hand, at once receive the just guerdon of all his former villainies. Knolles.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Guerdon, v. t.
To give guerdon to; to reward; to be a recompense for. [R.] Him we gave a costly bribe To guerdon silence. Tennyson.
Shades of meaning
Fernald lists guerdon only as an antonym, under gift.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.