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Webster 1913 Edition

Revenge

Re-venge′

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Revenged
,
p. pr. & vb. n.
Revenging
.]
[OF.
revengier
, F.
revancher
; pref.
re-
re- + OF.
vengier
to avenge, revenge, F.
venger
, L.
vindicare
. See
Vindicate
,
Vengerance
, and cf.
Revindicate
.]
1.
To inflict harm in return for, as an injury, insult, etc.; to exact satisfaction for, under a sense of injury; to avenge; – followed either by the wrong received, or by the person or thing wronged, as the object, or by the reciprocal pronoun as direct object, and a preposition before the wrong done or the wrongdoer.
To
revenge
the death of our fathers.
Ld. Berners.
The gods are just, and will
revenge
our cause.
Dryden.
Come, Antony, and young Octavius, come,
Revenge
yourselves alone on Cassius.
Shakespeare
2.
To inflict injury for, in a spiteful, wrong, or malignant spirit; to wreak vengeance for maliciously.
Syn. – To avenge; vindicate. See
Avenge
.

Re-venge′

,
Verb.
I.
To take vengeance; – with
upon.
[Obs.]
“A bird that will revenge upon you all.”
Shak.

Re-venge′

,
Noun.
1.
The act of revenging; vengeance; retaliation; a returning of evil for evil.
Certainly, in taking
revenge
, a man is even with his enemy; but in passing it over he is superior.
Bacon.
2.
The disposition to revenge; a malignant wishing of evil to one who has done us an injury.
Revenge
now goes
To lay a complot to betray thy foes.
Shakespeare
The indulgence of
revenge
tends to make men more savage and cruel.
Kames.

Webster 1828 Edition

Revenge

REVENGE

,
Verb.
T.
revenj'. [L. vindex, vindico. See Vindicate.]
1.
To inflict pain or injury in return for an injury received.
[Note. this word and avenge were formerly used as synonymous, and it is so used in the common version of the Scripture, and applied to the Supreme Being. 'O Lord - revenge me of my persecutors.' Jer. 15. In consequence of a distinction between avenge and revenge which modern usage has introduced, the application of this word to the Supreme Being appears extremely harsh, irreverent and offensive. Revenge is now used in an ill sense, for the infliction of pain maliciously or illegally; avenge for inflicting just punishment.]
2.
According to modern usage, to inflict pain deliberately and maliciously, contrary to the laws of justice and humanity, in return for injury, pain or evil received; to wreak vengeance spitefully on one who injures or offends. We say, to revenge an injury or insult, or with the reciprocal pronoun, to revenge ourselves on an enemy or for an injury, that is, to take vengeance or satisfaction.
3.
To vindicate by punishment of an enemy.
The gods are just and will revenge our cause.
[According to modern usage, avenge should here be substituted for revenge.]

REVENGE

,
Noun.
revenj'.
1.
Return of an injury; the deliberate infliction of pain or injury or a person in return for an injury received from him.
2.
According to modern usage, a malicious or spiteful infliction of pain or injury, contrary to the laws of justice and christianity, in return for an injury or offense. Revenge is dictated by passion; vengeance by justice.
3.
The passion which is excited by an injury done or an affront given; the desire of inflicting pain on one who has done an injury; as, to glut revenge.
Revenge, as the word is now understood, is always contrary to the precepts of Christ.
The indulgence of revenge tends to make men more savage and cruel.

Definition 2024

revenge

revenge

English

Noun

revenge ‎(usually uncountable, plural revenges)

  1. Any form of personal retaliatory action against an individual, institution, or group for some perceived harm or injustice.
    Indifference is the sweetest revenge.‎
    When I left my wife, she tried to set fire to the house in revenge.‎
  2. (competition) A win by the previous loser.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Translations

See also

Verb

revenge ‎(third-person singular simple present revenges, present participle revenging, simple past and past participle revenged)

  1. (reflexive) To take one's revenge (on or upon) someone.
    • Shakespeare
      Come, Antony, and young Octavius, come, / Revenge yourselves alone on Cassius.
  2. (transitive) To take revenge for (a particular harmful action), to avenge.
    • Ld. Berners
      to revenge the death of our fathers
    • Dryden
      The gods are just, and will revenge our cause.
    Arsenal revenged its loss to Manchester United last time with a 5-0 drubbing this time.
  3. (intransitive, archaic) To take vengeance; to revenge itself.
    • Shakespeare
      A bird that will revenge upon you all.

Translations

Anagrams

Etymology

From Middle French revenge, a derivation from Middle French revenger, from Old French revengier (possibly influenced by Old Provençal revènge ‎(“revenge, comeback”), from Old Provençal revenir ‎(“to come back”)), a variant of Middle French revancher, from Old French revenchier. The variants Old French vengier (whence French venger) and Old French venchier are both descended from Latin vindicare, with stress-conditioned different parallel development in the inflectional forms. Compare avenge and vengeance.

Pronunciation

  • (US) IPA(key): /ɹɪˈvɛndʒ/

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