vengeance Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the act of taking revenge (harming someone in retaliation for something harmful that they have done) especially in the next life; I will repay, saith the Lord"--Romans 12:19
    retribution; payback.
    • Vengeance is mine
    • 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

WordNet

Venge"ance noun
Etymology
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.
Definitions
  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.

Webster 1913