revenge
pronunciation
How to pronounce revenge in British English:
UK [rɪˈvendʒ]
How to pronounce revenge in American English:
US [rɪˈvendʒ]
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- Noun:
- action taken in return for an injury or offense
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- Verb:
- take revenge for a perceived wrong
Word Origin
- revenge
- revenge: see vindicate
- revenge (v.)
- late 14c., from Old French revengier, variant of revenchier "take revenge, avenge" (13c., Modern French revancher), from re-, intensive prefix (see re-), + vengier "take revenge," from Latin vindicare "to lay claim to, avenge, punish" (see vindicate).To avenge is "to get revenge" or "to take vengeance"; it suggests the administration of just punishment for a criminal or immoral act. Revenge seems to stress the idea of retaliation a bit more strongly and implies real hatred as its motivation. ["The Columbia Guide to Standard American English," 1993]
- revenge (n.)
- 1540s, from Middle French revenge, back-formation from revengier (see revenge (v.)).
Example
- 1. And robust scrutiny could give way to hotheaded revenge .
- 2. There is no revenge so complete as forgiveness .
- 3. The election offers him an opportunity for revenge .
- 4. Pakistani militants had vowed revenge on america and its allies for killing osama bin laden in may .
- 5. This makes revenge attacks likely .