revenge
UK[rɪˈvɛndʒ]US[rɪˈvɛndʒ]
n
The action of hurting or harming someone in return for an injury or wrong suffered at their hands.
v
To inflict hurt or harm on someone for an injury or wrong done to oneself or another.
Morpheme Breakdown
re
venge
re
again
venge
punish
Etymology
The word "revenge" entered English in the late Middle English period from the Old French revencher, itself based on Latin vindicare. The core Latin verb vindicare originally meant "to claim, set free, punish, or avenge", a concept rooted in asserting justice or retribution. The addition of the intensive prefix re- (meaning "again" or "back") transformed the sense into "to avenge", emphasizing a retaliatory action. Thus, the modern meaning evolved from the literal idea of "punishing back" for a perceived wrong, capturing the cyclical nature of retaliation.
Analysis
Structure: re (again) + venge (punish)
- re: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "again" or "back".
- venge: From Old French vengier, from Latin vindicare meaning "to lay claim to, avenge, punish".
Examples
He swore to take revenge on the people who had betrayed him.
The film is a classic tale of revenge and redemption.
She sought to revenge her brother's death by bringing the killer to justice.