vengeance

[ven-juh ns]

-noun

1. infliction of injury, harm, humiliation, or the like, on a person by another who has been harmed by that person; violent revenge: But have you the right to vengeance?
2. an act or opportunity of inflicting such trouble: to take one's vengeance.
3. the desire for revenge: a man full of vengeance.
4. Obsolete. hurt; injury.
5. Obsolete. curse; imprecation.

-idiom

6. with a vengeance,

1. with force or violence.
2. greatly; extremely.
3. to an unreasonable, excessive, or surprising degree: He attacked the job with a vengeance.

Origin:
1250-1300; ME < OF, equiv. to vengi(er) to avenge (see venge ) + -ance -ance

Synonyms:
1. requital, retaliation. See revenge.

Antonyms:
1. forgiveness.

Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009. Dictionary.com Escape