punishment or retaliation for an insult or injury
the dispensing of reward or punishment, esp by God
retributive /riʹtribyootiv/ adj
retributively /riʹtribyootivli/ adv
retributory /riʹtribyoot(ə)ri/ adj
[Middle English retribucioun via French from late Latin retribution-, retributio, from Latin retribuere to pay back, from re- + tribuere: see tribute]