avenge
Use Avenge in a sentence
Origin:
1325–75; Middle English avengen < Old French avengier, equivalent to a- a-5 + vengier < Latin vindicāre; see vindicate
1325–75; Middle English avengen < Old French avengier, equivalent to a- a-5 + vengier < Latin vindicāre; see vindicate
Related forms
a·venge·ful, adjective
a·veng·er, noun
a·veng·ing·ly, adverb
un·a·venged, adjective
un·a·veng·ing, adjective
Synonyms
vindicate. Avenge, revenge both imply to inflict pain or harm in return for pain or harm inflicted on oneself or those persons or causes to which one feels loyalty. The two words were formerly interchangeable, but have been differentiated until they now convey widely diverse ideas. Avenge is now restricted to inflicting punishment as an act of retributive justice or as a vindication of propriety: to avenge a murder by bringing the criminal to trial. Revenge implies inflicting pain or harm to retaliate for real or fancied wrongs; a reflexive pronoun is often used with this verb: Iago wished to revenge himself upon Othello.
vindicate. Avenge, revenge both imply to inflict pain or harm in return for pain or harm inflicted on oneself or those persons or causes to which one feels loyalty. The two words were formerly interchangeable, but have been differentiated until they now convey widely diverse ideas. Avenge is now restricted to inflicting punishment as an act of retributive justice or as a vindication of propriety: to avenge a murder by bringing the criminal to trial. Revenge implies inflicting pain or harm to retaliate for real or fancied wrongs; a reflexive pronoun is often used with this verb: Iago wished to revenge himself upon Othello.
Antonyms
1. forgive.
1. forgive.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To avenge
00:10
Avenge
is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
| a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal. |
| a fool or simpleton; ninny. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
avenge (əˈvɛndʒ) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb | |
| (usually tr) to inflict a punishment in retaliation for (harm, injury, etc) done to (a person or persons); take revenge for or on behalf of: to avenge a crime; to avenge a murdered friend | |
| [C14: from Old French avengier, from vengier, from Latin vindicāre; see | |
| usage The use of avenge with a reflexive pronoun was formerly considered incorrect, but is now acceptable: she avenged herself on the man who killed her daughter | |
| a'venger | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
avenge
late 14c., from O.Fr. avengier, from a- "to" + vengier "take revenge" (Mod.Fr. venger), from L. vindicare "to claim, avenge, punish" (see vindicate). Related: Avenging.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
Steve sets off after the shark, to avenge the ingestion of his friend.
Reduction in avenge number of days manger has certificate.
The public in general has no way to punish or avenge that crime, but the law enforcement system does.
And still avenge each wrong, to friends or kindred done.
Nearby Words
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