revenge English · revision 6802

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1375|origins=la vindico}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɹəˈvɛnd͡ʒ/, /ɹɪˈvɛnd͡ʒ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English revengen, [[bor|fro|revengier]], a variant of [[m|fro|revenchier|t=to take revenge]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from [[m|fro|re-]], here intensive, and [[m|fro|vengier|t=to take revenge]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[la|vindico|alt=vindicāre|t=to lay claim to, avenge]];^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) Hoad and NODE give Late Latin [[m|la-lat|revindicāre]] as the source.^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998) The noun is from [[m|frm|revenge]], revenche, a back-formation from the verb.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ As a verb, to take vengeance: 1375, in John Barbour's ''The Bruce'',^(Barnhart 1988) the earliest use being Scots.^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The transitive verb, to take vengeance on account of a wrong, is from the early 15th century.^(Etymonline) The noun, retaliation for a wrong, is from 1547, in a translation of Virgil's ''Aeneid'', in Barnhart,^(Barnhart 1988) about 1525 in MWU, the 1540s in Etymonline;^(MWU 2024)^(Etymonline) the desire for revenge is from before 1586.^(OED 1989) An opportunity to win back a loss, as in a return game at cards or chess, is from 1672.^(OED 1989) Word Origins quotes Francis Bacon's ''revenge is a kind of wild justice'' and notes that the proverb ''revenge is a dish best eaten cold'' is first recorded in the late 19th century.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1375 – to take vengeance.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * early 15th century – to avenge a wrong.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1547 – the noun.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1672 – a return game.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The act of harming someone in return for a wrong suffered; [[retaliation]] or [[vengeance]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The desire for revenge; [[vindictiveness]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A chance to make up for a defeat, as in a return match.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To harm someone in return for a wrong; to [[avenge]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[revenger]]

+ * [[revengeless]]

+ * [[revengingly]]

+ * [[nonrevenge]]

+ * [[revengeful]]

+ * [[unrevenged]]

+ * [[unrevenging]]

+ * [[Montezuma's revenge]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[vengeance]]

+ * [[avenge]]

+ * [[vindicate]]

+ * [[revanche]]

+ * [[vindictive]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Etymonline quotes the ''Columbia Guide to Standard American English'' (1993): [[avenge]] suggests just punishment for a wrong, while ''revenge'' stresses retaliation and implies real hatred.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}