| Vengeance | 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. [ 1913 Webster ] To me belongeth vengeance and recompense. Deut. xxxii. 35. [ 1913 Webster ] To execute fierce vengeance on his foes. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. Harm; mischief. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
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, (a) with great violence; as, to strike with a vengeance. [ Colloq. ] (b) with even greater intensity; as, to return one's insult with a vengeance. [ 1913 Webster + PJC ]
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