fee vs recoup

fee

verb
  • To reward for services performed, or to be performed; to recompense; to hire or keep in hire; hence, to bribe. 

noun
  • A right to the use of a superior's land as a stipend for certain services to be performed, typically military service. 

  • An additional monetary payment charged for a service or good that is minor compared to the underlying cost. 

  • Synonym of fief: the land so held. 

  • An inheritable estate in land, whether absolute and without limitation to potential heirs (fee simple) or with limitations to particular kinds of heirs (fee tail). 

  • An inheritable estate in land held of a feudal lord on condition of performance of certain services, typically military service. 

recoup

verb
  • To reimburse; to indemnify; often used reflexively and in the passive. 

  • To make back, as an investment. 

  • To recover from an error. 

  • To keep back rightfully (a part), as if by cutting off, so as to diminish a sum due; to take off (a part) from damages; to deduct. 

How often have the words fee and recoup occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )