what the vengeance

1 definition found

what the vengeance - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Vengeance \Venge"ance\, 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.
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              To me belongeth vengeance and recompense. --Deut.
                                                    xxxii. 35.
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              To execute fierce vengeance on his foes. --Milton.
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     2. Harm; mischief. [Obs.] --Shak.
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     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]