Dictionary
Thesaurus
Reference
Translate
Web
Related Searches
on Ask.com
Synonyms
Nearby Entries
retribution - 5 dictionary results

ret⋅ri⋅bu⋅tion

  [re-truh-byoo-shuhn]
Use retribution in a Sentence
–noun
1. requital according to merits or deserts, esp. for evil.
2. something given or inflicted in such requital.
3. Theology. the distribution of rewards and punishments in a future life.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME retribucioun < MF < LL retribūtiōn- (s. of retribūtiō) punishment, reward as result of judgment, equiv. to L retribūt(us) (ptp. of retribuere to restore, give back; see re-, tribute ) + -iōn- -ion

Synonyms:
1, 2. retaliation, repayment, recompense. See revenge.

Antonyms:
1, 2. pardon.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To retribution
ret·ri·bu·tion   (rět'rə-byōō'shən)   
n.  
  1. Something justly deserved; recompense.
  2. Something given or demanded in repayment, especially punishment.
  3. Theology Punishment or reward distributed in a future life based on performance in this one.

[Middle English retribucion, from Old French retribution, from Latin retribūtiō, retribūtiōn-, from retribūtus, past participle of retribuere, to pay back : re-, re- + tribuere, to grant; see tribe.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

Retribution

Ret`ri*bu"tion\, n. [L. retributio: cf. F. r['e]tribution.]

1. The act of retributing; repayment.

In good offices and due retributions, we may not be pinching and niggardly. --Bp. Hall.

2. That which is given in repayment or compensation; return suitable to the merits or deserts of, as an action; commonly, condign punishment for evil or wrong.

All who have their reward on earth, . . . Naught seeking but the praise of men, here find Fit retribution, empty as their deeds. --Milton.

3. Specifically, reward and punishment, as distributed at the general judgment.

It is a strong argument for a state of retribution hereafter, that in this world virtuous persons are very often unfortunate, and vicious persons prosperous. --Addison.

Syn: Repayment; requital; recompense; payment; retaliation.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Cite This Source
Language Translation for : retribution
Spanish: justo castigo,
German: die Vergeltung,
Japanese: 報い
More Translations »

retribution 
1382, "repayment," from L. retributionem (nom. retributio) "recompense, repayment," from retributus, pp. of retribuere "hand back, repay," from re- "back" + tribuere "to assign, allot" (see tribute). Sense of "evil given for evil done" is from day of retribution (1526) in Christian theology, the time of divine reward or punishment.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source

Main Entry: ret·ri·bu·tion
Pronunciation: "re-tr&-'byü-sh&n
Function: noun
: punishment imposed (as on a convicted criminal) for purposes of repayment or revenge for the wrong committed
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see retribution on Thesaurus | Reference