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Meaning of VENGEANCE

Pronunciation:  'venjuns

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WordNet Dictionary
 
 Definition: [n]  the act of taking revenge (harming someone in retaliation for something harmful that they have done) especially in the next life; "Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord"--Romans 12:19; "For vengeance I would do nothing. This nation is too great to look for mere revenge"--James Garfield; "he swore vengeance on the man who betrayed him"; "the swiftness of divine retribution"
 
 Synonyms: retribution
 
 See Also: retaliation, revenge

 

 

Webster's 1913 Dictionary
 
 Definition: 
\Venge"ance\, n. [F. vengeance, fr. venger to avenge,
L. vindicare to lay claim to, defend, avenge, fr. vindex a
claimant, defender, avenger, the first part of which is of
uncertain origin, and the last part akin to dicere to say.
See {Diction}, and cf. {Avenge}, {Revenge}, {Vindicate}.]
1. Punishment inflicted in return for an injury or an
   offense; retribution; -- often, in a bad sense, passionate
   or unrestrained revenge.

         To me belongeth vengeance and recompense. --Deut.
                                               xxxii. 35.

         To execute fierce vengeance on his foes. --Milton.

2. Harm; mischief. [Obs.] --Shak.

{What a vengeance}, or {What the vengeance}, what! --
   emphatically. [Obs.] ``But what a vengeance makes thee
   fly!'' --Hudibras. ``What the vengeance! Could he not
   speak 'em fair?'' --Shak.

{With a vengeance}, with great violence; as, to strike with a
   vengeance. [Colloq.]

 

 

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