English Explanatory Dictionary

avenge

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To take vengeance (for); to exact satisfaction for by punishing the injuring party; to vindicate by inflicting pain or evil on a wrongdoer.
  2. To revenge oneself (on or upon someone).
  3. To take vengeance.
  4. To treat revengefully; to wreak vengeance on.
noun
  1. An act of vengeance; a revenge.

Pronunciation

/əˈvɛnd͡ʒ/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-avenge.wav

Word forms

avenge avenges avenging avenged

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd Proto-Italic *ad Proto-Italic *ad- Latin ad- Old French a- Proto-Indo-European *weyh₁-der. Proto-Indo-European *wéyh₁s Proto-Italic *wīs Latin vim Proto-Indo-European *deyḱ- Proto-Indo-European *déyḱeti Proto-Italic *deikō Latin dīcere Proto-Indo-European *-s Latin -s Latin vindex Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti Proto-Italic *-āō Latin -ō Latin vindicāre Old French vengier Old French avengierbor. Middle English avengen English avenge Inherited from Middle English avengen, borrowed from Old French avengier, from a- + vengier.

Synonyms

avenge even the score get one's own back settle the score tar out bewreak get back at retaliate take revenge spite

Related words

revenge

Derived words

avengeable avengeance avengeful avengement avenger avengingly unavenged unavenging
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