Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Victim
Vic′tim
,Noun.
[L.
victima
: cf. F. victime
.] 1.
A living being sacrificed to some deity, or in the performance of a religious rite; a creature immolated, or made an offering of.
Led like a
victim
, to my death I’ll go. Dryden.
2.
A person or thing destroyed or sacrificed in the pursuit of an object, or in gratification of a passion;
as, a
. victim
to jealousy, lust, or ambition3.
A person or living creature destroyed by, or suffering grievous injury from, another, from fortune or from accident;
as, the
. victim
of a defaulter; the victim
of a railroad accident4.
Hence, one who is duped, or cheated; a dupe; a gull.
[Colloq.]
Webster 1828 Edition
Victim
VIC'TIM
n. [L. victima.]1.
A living being sacrificed to some deity, or in the performance of a religious rite; usually, some beast slain in sacrifice; but human beings have been slain by some nations, for the purpose of appeasing the wrath or conciliating the favor of some deity.2.
Something destroyed; something sacrificed in the pursuit of an object. How many persons have fallen victims to jealousy, to lust, to ambition!