Vengeance (?), 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.
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