01 n. Punishment inflicted in return for an injury or an offense; retribution; -- often, in a bad sense, passionate or unrestrained revenge.
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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.
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2.
Harm; mischief.[Obs.]
Phrases & compounds
What a vengeance —
what! -- emphatically.
With a vengeance —
with great violence; as, to strike with a vengeance.