vengeancen.adv.adj.
/ˈvɛn(d)ʒ(ə)ns/, U.S. /ˈvɛndʒəns/ 1.
a. The act of avenging oneself or another; retributive infliction of injury or punishment; hurt or harm done from vindictive motives.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > punishment > retributive punishment > [noun]
wrakec825
wrechec1175
yielda1200
wrakedomc1275
vengeancea1300
hevening1303
vengement1338
wreakc1340
rewardc1350
retributiona1425
revengeancec1480
wratha1500
revengementa1513
avengeance1535
avenge1568
ultion1575
venge1587
wreck1591
nemesis1597
revanche1615
vindict1639
vindication1647
the world > action or operation > behaviour > reciprocal treatment or return of an action > revenge > [noun]
wrakec825
wrackc900
wrechec1175
yielda1200
wrakedomc1275
vengeancea1300
vengement1338
awreaking1340
rewardc1350
revengeancec1480
wratha1500
avengementa1513
revengementa1513
revengea1525
avengeance1535
avenge1568
requital1569
ultion1575
venge1587
wreck1591
revanche1615
vindict1639
payback1973
a1300 Cursor Mundi 827 Son bigan wenganz to kiþe.
c1315 Shoreham iii. 248 He þat spilleþ mannes lyf, Veniounse hyt schel acwyte.
c1380 Eng. Wycliffite Serm. in Sel. Wks. I. 149 Þis is noo good praier, but more axinge of Goddis venjaunce.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 13184 But þis ded was sald ful dere,..Wit a greithful soth vengeance.
a1450 Knt. de la Tour (1868) 37 She tolde..that it was the uengeaunce of God that fell on her, the whiche she had welle deserued.
1474 W. Caxton tr. Game & Playe of Chesse (1883) ii. iv. 53 For hit is the most hyest and fayr vengeance that a man may doo.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Psalms xciii. 1 Thou God to whom vengeaunce belongeth, shewe thy self.
1592 T. Kyd Trueth Murthering of Brewen 1 The blood of the iust Abel cried..for vengeance & reuenge on the murderer.
1613 S. Purchas Pilgrimage 156 Diuine mercie..remoued the Christians to Pella out of the danger, that without any impediment the floud-gates of vengeance might bee set wide open for Desolations black-guard to enter.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost i. 170 But see the angry Victor hath recall'd His Ministers of vengeance and pursuit Back to the Gates of Heav'n. View more context for this quotation
1757 T. Gray Ode II ii. iii, in Odes 18 Stamp we our vengeance deep, and ratify his doom.
1769 ‘Junius’ Stat Nominis Umbra (1772) I. xv. 104 The injuries you have done..demand not only redress, but vengeance.
1837 W. Irving Adventures Capt. Bonneville III. 67 Alarm signals, to arouse the country and collect the scattered bands for vengeance.
1891 F. W. Farrar Darkness & Dawn I. xxv. 238 That in some way she regarded Britannicus..as the ultimate resource of her vengeance and despair.
b. In the phrase to take (also †nim) vengeance.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > punishment > retributive punishment > inflict retributive punishment [verb (intransitive)]
wreakc825
to do, have, nim (= take), ta, or take wrake (of, on, or upon)?a900
to do (also take) wrack (on one)12..
to do, have, make, nim, seek, and esp. take wrechec1200
to take (also nim) vengeance1297
to perform, seek, spend, work, and esp. take (…) wreakc1330
visita1382
vengec1400
revengec1485
avenge1535
hevenc1540
the world > action or operation > behaviour > reciprocal treatment or return of an action > revenge > take or execute revenge [verb (intransitive)]
wreakc825
to do, have, nim (= take), ta, or take wrake (of, on, or upon)?a900
to do (also take) wrack (on one)12..
to do, have, make, nim, seek, and esp. take wrechec1200
to take (also nim) vengeance1297
wrakea1300
to perform, seek, spend, work, and esp. take (…) wreakc1330
visita1382
vengec1400
revengec1485
avenge1535
hevenc1540
resent1612
exact1858
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 6859 Þe king..suor he nolde abide, Þat he nolde uerst nyme vengaunce in is side.
c1386 G. Chaucer Melibeus ⁋ 49 Savinge your grace, I can nat seen that it mighte greetly harme me though I toke vengeaunce.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 6094 Þair goddes i me on wil wrake, O þam mi wengeance sal i take.
c1400 Rom. Rose 5780 God can wel vengeaunce therof take.
c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (Roxb.) xii. 51 In taken of þe vengeaunce þat Godd tuke on þa fyue citeez.
a1464 J. Capgrave Abbreuiacion of Cron. (Cambr. Gg.4.12) (1983) 84 He receyued him with grete worchip, took venjauns on his enmies.
1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) ii. 59 Vengance we sholde take therof.
1526 Bible (Tyndale) Rom. xiii. 4 To take vengeaunce on them that do evyll.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Cymbeline (1623) v. i. 8 Gods, if you Should haue 'tane vengeance on my faults, I neuer Had liu'd to put on this. View more context for this quotation
1727 N. Bailey Universal Etymol. Eng. Dict. II Avenger, one who takes Vengeance on an Offender.
1808 W. Scott Marmion ii. xxxi. 109 Full soon such vengeance will he take, That you shall wish the fiery Dane Had rather been your guest again.
1847 S. Austin tr. L. von Ranke Hist. Reformation in Germany (ed. 2) III. 17 The strong city of Pavia, on which cruel vengeance was taken for the resistance it had made.
c. Personified or otherwise regarded as an entity.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > punishment > retributive punishment > [noun] > personified
vengeance1604
the world > action or operation > behaviour > reciprocal treatment or return of an action > revenge > [noun] > personified
revenge1569
vengeance1604
1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet ii. ii. 491 A rowsed vengeance sets him new a worke.
1642 D. Rogers Naaman 39 Left to conflict nakedly with hell and vengeance, till it carry them away quicke.
1721 E. Young Revenge ii. i Vengeance is still alive; from her dark covert..She stalks in view.
1799 T. Campbell Pleasures of Hope & Other Poems i. 395 Where was thine arm, O Vengeance!
1827 W. M. Praed in Port Folio 22 360/2 Look how the fearful felon gazes On the scaffold his country's vengeance raises.
1879 M. A. Brown tr. J. L. Runeberg Nadeschda vi. 67 Then I saw vengeance beckon, it lit my path In years of woe.
2.
a. With a and plural. An act or instance of retributive or vindictive punishment. (Also as in 1c.)
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > punishment > retributive punishment > [noun] > act or instance of
vengeancea1300
wreaka1300
wrake13..
wrechea1325
revenge1561
the world > action or operation > behaviour > reciprocal treatment or return of an action > revenge > [noun] > action of taking revenge > act or instance of
vengeancea1300
wreaka1300
wrake13..
wrechea1325
revenge1548
a1300 Cursor Mundi 1592 For-þi in forme of iugement He thoght a neu wengaunce to sent.
c1450 (c1400) Sowdon of Babylon (1881) l. 14 For the offences to God i-doon Many vengeaunces haue be~falle.
c1450 Jacob's Well (1900) 41 Ffoure vengaunces comyn to man here in erthe for fals tythyng.
a1500 R. Henryson tr. Æsop Fables: Wolf & Lamb l. 2761 in Poems (1981) 102 It cryis ane vengeance vnto the heuinnis hie.
1659 H. Hammond Paraphr. & Annot. Psalms (cix. 6–10 Paraphr.) 553 Sad executions, judgments, and vengeances.
a1704 T. Brown Satyr against Woman in Wks. (1707) I. i. 83 He falls a willing Pris'ner to her Arms, There meets a Veng'ance of ne'er ending Harms.
1718 A. Pope tr. Homer Iliad IV. xiii. 832 With his full Strength he bent his angry Bow, And wing'd the feather'd Vengeance at the Foe.
1728 P. Walker Life A. Peden (1901) I. 155 Hasty marriages are sudden vengeances.
1791 E. Burke Appeal New to Old Whigs 131 Taking..a cruel vengeance on these deluded wretches.
1838 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece (new ed.) IV. xxxi. 201 Thrasybulus..animated his men by..the prospect of a just vengeance.
1873 R. Broughton Nancy I. 45 I am planning five distinct and lengthy vengeances against Bobby.
b. In imprecations, usually with on. Also rarely without article. Obsolete or archaic.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > malediction > oaths > [interjection] > oaths other than religious or obscene > imprecations
woeOE
dahetc1290
confoundc1330
foul (also shame) fall ——c1330
sorrow on——c1330
in the wanianda1352
wildfirea1375
evil theedomc1386
a pestilence on (also upon)c1390
woe betide you (also him, her, etc.)c1390
maldathaita1400
murrainc1400
out ona1415
in the wild waning worldc1485
vengeance?a1500
in a wanion1549
with a wanion1549
woe worth1553
a plague on——a1566
with a wanion to?c1570
with a wanyand1570
bot1584
maugre1590
poxa1592
death1593
rot1594
rot on1595
cancro1597
pax1604
pize on (also upon)1605
vild1605
peascod1606
cargo1607
confusion1608
perditiona1616
(a) pest upon1632
deuce1651
stap my vitals1697
strike me blind, dumb, lucky (if, but—)1697
stop my vitals1699
split me (or my windpipe)1700
rabbit1701
consume1756
capot me!1760
nick me!1760
weary set1788
rats1816
bad cess to1859
curse1885
hanged1887
buggeration1964
?a1500 Chester Pl. xiii. 164 Must we afore the pharisies appeare? A vengeance on them, far and neere!
1560 J. Heywood Fourth Hundred Epygrams vi. sig. Av A vengeance on that lame iade.
1604 Wit of Woman sig. G4v A vengeance pepper such braines, as cannot beare one draught of Ipocras.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) ii. iii. 18 A veng'ance on't, there 'tis. View more context for this quotation
1814 W. Scott Waverley II. vii. 122 D'ye think the lads..will care for..yere stool o' repentance? Vengeance on the black face o't! View more context for this quotation
c. A person of a violent temper.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > anger > irascibility > [noun] > irascible person
wasp1496
shit-fire1598
flesh-pistol1608
tinder-box1608
touchwood1617
Tartar1669
touch and go1675
spitfire1684
vengeance1712
spunkie1821
pepperbox1822
tempest1852
pepperer1864
gingersnap1889
pepperpot1894
spit-cat1898
spit kitten1912
slow burner1930
fireball1931
pop-off1938
1712 J. Swift Jrnl. to Stella 21 Mar. (1948) II. 519 The D—— he is! marryed to that Vengeance!.. Who would have her?
3. Used to strengthen interrogations. ? Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > enquiry > expressing inquiry [interjection] > strongly
vengeance1598
1598 R. Bernard tr. Terence Eunuch iv. vii, in Terence in Eng. 167 Thr. Where are the other? San. What other in a vengeance?
a1616 W. Shakespeare Coriolanus (1623) iii. i. 262 I would they were in Tyber. What the vengeance, could he not speake 'em faire? View more context for this quotation
1620 Hist. Frier Rush sig. D3v His wife..said vnto him: what a vengance needest thou to take a seruant?
1663 S. Butler Hudibras: First Pt. i. iii. 179 But what a-vengeance makes thee flie From me too, as thine enemy?
1777 Whole Proc. Jockey & Maggy (rev. ed.) v. 32 What the vengeance uncle, sudna fouks die when they're auld?
1828 W. Scott Fair Maid of Perth vi, in Chron. Canongate 2nd Ser. I. 140 Art thou beside thyself, boy? or what a vengeance takes thee from the city, like the wing of the whirlwind?
4. with a vengeance:† a. With a curse or malediction. Obsolete.† c. So with the vengeance. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > malediction > [adverb]
accursedlyc1330
with a vengeance1573
imprecatingly1652
execratively1837
imprecatorily1874
1573 W. Smith Wydow Edyth (new ed.) sig. Dv In she goth,..And came out agayne, saying wt a vengeaunce: They must go by water.
1581 M. Hanmer Iesuites Banner E 2 b Let such then goe with a vengeaunce, and leaue those toyes for Poets to prate of and let them preach better stuffe vnto the people.
1598 R. Bernard tr. Terence Andria ii. i, in Terence in Eng. 32 Abi hinc in malam crucem, Away with a vengeance: get thee hence with a mischiefe: goe hence with sorrow enough.
1630 R. Norton tr. W. Camden Hist. Princesse Elizabeth iv. 127 The Queene..waxing impatient, gaue him [Essex] a cuffe on the eare, and bad him be gone with a vengeance.
1673 Vinegar & Mustard (Hindley) III. 8 You are land-sick now, and not sea-sick, with a vengeance to you for me.
1836 T. Carlyle Jrnl. 22 Mar. in J. A. Froude T. Carlyle: Life in London (1884) I. iii. 70 Why not quit literature—with a vengeance to it—and turn, were it even to sheep herding..?
b. As an intensive: With great force or violence; in an extreme degree; to an unusual extent.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > violent action or operation > violently [phrase]
of hardc1330
at (the) utterance1480
hip and thigh1560
with a vengeance1568
with a powderc1600
with a siserary1607
full fling1614
with the vengeance1693
like a thousand (also hundred) of brick(s)1836
the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > greatly or very much [phrase] > extremely
like mada1375
with a mischief1538
(as) — as anything1542
with a vengeance1568
with a siserary1607
(to be pleased) to a feathera1616
in (the) extremea1616
with the vengeance1693
to a degree1740
like hell1776
like the devil1791
like winky1830
like billy-o1885
(like) seven shades of ——1919
like a bandit1943
on wheels1943
1568 V. Skinner tr. R. González de Montes Discouery Inquisition of Spayne f. 24v He shall come downe with a vengeaunce.
1598 T. Lodge & R. Greene Looking Glasse (new ed.) sig. B2v A plaister..that mends him with a verie vengeance.
1611 T. Middleton & T. Dekker Roaring Girle sig. M Are you too well, too happy? Alex. With a vengeance.
1655 H. L'Estrange Reign King Charles 88 The furious multitude..struck him down, and malled him with a vengeance.
1673 R. Leigh Transproser Rehears'd 63 Accordingly he lays it on with a vengeance.
1710 ‘J. Touchwood’ Quixote Redivivus 6 This..is proving the..existence of Giants..with a Vengeance.
1764 S. Foote Lyar ii. 23 His friends..gloss over his foible, by calling him an agreeable novelist; and so he is, with a vengeance.
1834 L. Ritchie Wanderings by Seine 94 Some readers will think that we are drawing our traveller's bow with a vengeance.
1867 M. Arnold On Study Celtic Lit. 29 Here, at any rate, are materials enough with a vengeance.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > violent action or operation > violently [phrase]
of hardc1330
at (the) utterance1480
hip and thigh1560
with a vengeance1568
with a powderc1600
with a siserary1607
full fling1614
with the vengeance1693
like a thousand (also hundred) of brick(s)1836
the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > greatly or very much [phrase] > extremely
like mada1375
with a mischief1538
(as) — as anything1542
with a vengeance1568
with a siserary1607
(to be pleased) to a feathera1616
in (the) extremea1616
with the vengeance1693
to a degree1740
like hell1776
like the devil1791
like winky1830
like billy-o1885
(like) seven shades of ——1919
like a bandit1943
on wheels1943
1693 Humours & Conversat. Town 29 This is following the Dictates of Reason with the vengeance.
a. Extremely, intensely. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > [adverb]
stronglyeOE
felec950
strongeOE
highlyOE
highOE
greatlya1200
stourlya1225
greata1325
dreec1330
deeplya1400
mightya1400
dreichlyc1400
mighty?a1425
sorec1440
mainlyc1450
greatumly1456
madc1487
profoundly1489
stronglya1492
muchwhata1513
shrewlya1529
heapa1547
vengeance?1548
sorely1562
smartlyc1580
mightly1582
mightily1587
violently1601
intensively1604
almightily1612
violent1629
seriously1643
intensely1646
importunately1660
shrewdly1664
gey1686
sadly1738
plenty1775
vitally1787
substantively1795
badly1813
far1814
heavily1819
serious1825
measurably1834
dearly1843
bally1939
majorly1955
sizzlingly1956
majorly1978
fecking1983
?1548 L. Shepherd John Bon 5 Is not here a mischeuous thynge? The Messe is vengaunce holye for all ther sayeinge.
?1566 W. P. tr. C. S. Curio Pasquine in Traunce 44 They were also vengeance angry against the Pope.
?1566 W. P. tr. C. S. Curio Pasquine in Traunce 41 I remember that disputation. It is vengeaunce subtile.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Coriolanus (1623) ii. ii. 5 That's a braue fellow: but hee's vengeance prowd. View more context for this quotation
a1640 J. Fletcher & P. Massinger Little French Lawyer ii. i, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. I/2 How it grumbles? This Sword is vengeance angry.
1711 J. Swift Jrnl. to Stella 21 Jan. (1948) I. 171 It has snowed terribly all night, and is vengeance cold.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > existence > non-existence > [adverb] > not > not at all
noughteOE
nothingOE
nonewaysc1225
not a dealc1250
nothing soa1393
no-gatea1400
no-gatesa1400
no waya1400
nowaysa1400
riff no raff?a1400
in (also on, by) no kins way(s) (or wise)c1400
nowisec1425
no whitc1520
none1533
never a dysec1540
vengeance1556
in no sort1561
none ofc1571
nil1581
none1651
nowhat1651
nohow1775
du tout1824
nowt1828
nix1862
nary1895
1556 J. Heywood Spider & Flie xxxix. 7 Vengeance the whit I am for their woordes the nere.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > [adjective] > great (of quantity/amount)
greata1325
no smalla1450
round1596
vengeance1602
main1609
vast1637
any1758
right smart1825
high-level1860
1602 W. Fulbecke Parallele or Conf. Law ii. Introd. 4 I bought the booke..because it was in English: yet there is a vengeance deale of Latin in it.
Compounds
General attributive, as vengeance-cryer, vengeance-crying, vengeance-oath, vengeance-scathed, vengeance-sword, vengeance-taking.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > punishment > retributive punishment > [noun] > infliction of
hevening1303
wreakingc1374
vengeance-takingc1386
vindication1484
revenging1485
avengementa1513
avenging1541
the world > action or operation > behaviour > reciprocal treatment or return of an action > revenge > [noun] > action of taking revenge
wreakingc1374
vengeance-takingc1386
vindication1484
revenging1485
avenging1541
c1386 G. Chaucer Melibeus ⁋65 For al-be-it so that alle tarying be anoyful, algates it is nat to repreve in yevinge of Iugement, ne in vengeance-taking, whan it is suffisant and resonable.
?1518 Cocke Lorelles Bote sig. C.j Cursers chyders and grete vengeaunce cryers.
1608 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. (new ed.) ii. iv. 110 Lord, sheath again thy vengeance sword a space.
1617 A. Newman Pleasures Vision 15 Haples wretches, with the memory Tortur'd of woe, and vengeance-crying Sins.
1838 S. Bellamy Betrayal 43 When o'erthrown In first rebellion, vengeance-scathed he fled.
1844 E. B. Barrett Duchess May in Poems II. 73 Thou and I have parted troth,—yet I keep my vengeance-oath.
Derivatives
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > [adverb] > extremely or exceedingly
swithlyc888
micklelyeOE
swith971
hardOE
un-i-fohOE
sevenfoldlOE
unmeet?c1225
innerlyc1330
horribly1340
too1340
sore1474
horriblec1475
vehemently1483
outrageous1487
done?a1513
exquisite1529
strangely1532
exceeding1535
exceedingly1535
angardlyc1540
angerlyc1540
choicec1540
vengeable1542
vengeably?1550
extremelya1554
monstrous1569
thrice1579
amain1587
extremea1591
damnably1598
fellc1600
tyrannically1602
exquisitely1603
damnedly1607
preciously1607
damnablea1616
impensively1620
excellingly1621
main1632
fearful1634
vengeancelya1640
upsy1650
impensely1657
twadding1657
vastly1664
hideous1667
mainly1670
consumed1707
consumedly1707
outrageously1749
damned1757
nation1771
shockingly1777
deuced1779
darn1789
darned1807
felly1807
varsal1814
awful1816
awfy1816
frightfully1816
deucedly1819
dogged1819
awfully1820
gallowsa1823
shocking1831
tremendously1832
everlasting1833
terribly1833
fearfully1835
ripping1838
poison1840
thundering1853
frighteninglyc1854
raring1854
hell's own1863
goldarned1866
goddamned1870
doggone1871
acutely1872
whooping1874
stupidly1878
everlastingly1879
hideously1882
densely1883
storming1883
good and1885
thunderingly1885
crazy1887
tremendous1887
madly1888
goldarn1892
howling1895
murderously1916
rasted1919
goddam1921
bitchingly1923
Christly1923
bitching1929
falling-down1930
lousy1932
appallingly1937
stratospherically1941
Christ almighty1945
effing1945
focking1956
dagnab1961
drop-dead1980
hella1987
totes2006
a1640 J. Fletcher & P. Massinger Prophetesse i. iii, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Dddd2v/2 Yet I could poyson him in a Pot of Perry, he loves that veng'ancely.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > punishment > retributive punishment > [noun] > one who inflicts
wreakera1300
wrechera1325
vengera1340
vengesour1382
avenger1388
vengeancerc1440
revengera1522
nemesis1542
alastor1603
vindicator1827
retributor1844
the world > action or operation > behaviour > reciprocal treatment or return of an action > revenge > [noun] > avenger of injured or injury
wreakera1300
wrechera1325
vengera1340
vengesour1382
vengeancerc1440
revengera1522
avenger1535
vindicator1827
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 508/2 Veniawncere,..vendicator, ultor, vindex.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1916; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.adv.adj.1297