vengeable, a. and adv. Obs. or dial.
Forms: 4–5 veniable, 5–7 vengable, vengeable (6 uen-); 5 vengeabyl, -yll(e, -abil.
[a. AF. vengable (Gower), f. venger venge v. Cf. vengible a.]
1. Inclined or ready to take vengeance or inflict retaliative injury. (Cf. vengeful a. 1.) a. Of persons (or animals).
Very common c 1400–1550; in mod. dial. use = destructive.
| c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. II. 189 For ȝif he were veniable here no man myȝte suffre his veniaunce. 1390 Gower Conf. II. 119 Such a Sor is incurable, And ek the goddes ben vengable. c 1400 Lydg. in Pol., Rel. & L. Poems (1903) 48 Where god list spare, a tygre is not vengeable. 1421 Hoccleve Min. Poems 153 Al-thogh þat shee were in this cas vengeable,..Shee was in þat in partie excusable. c 1450 Mirk's Festial 140 Forto schew you how vengabull God ys apon hom þat ben lef forto sched Cristys blod. 1529 S. Fish Supplic. Beggers 3 Whate tiraunt euer oppressed the people like this cruell and vengeable generacion? 1547 Boorde Introd. Knowl. xvii. (1870) 167 There is a beast called a Bouy, lyke a Bugle, whyche is a vengeable beast. 1573 G. Harvey Letter-bk. (Camden) 138 To be notoriously revenged on this vengeable feende. c 1610 Sir J. Melvil Mem. (1735) 206 The Appetites of envious, vengeable and greedy Counsellors. 1640 Bastwick Lord Bishops iii. C 3, Who should prove the most vengable Instruments of persecuting and oppressing Gods true children. 1866 Gregor Banffsh. Gloss. 232 Rottans are vengeable craiturs on young deuks. |
b. Of the mind, will, etc.
| 1411–12 Hoccleve De Reg. Princ. 2330 He rathir chees be disobedient To his vengeable wil,..Than be forsworn of þat he swoor so depe. 1513 Bradshaw St. Werburge i. 1041 His vengeable mynde was hymselfe to magnyfy..Or destroye hymselfe. 1539 Cromwell in Merriman Life & Lett. (1902) II. 169 His Inique covetous and vengeable disposicion. 1540 R. Hyrde tr. Vives' Instr. Chr. Wom. (1592) H iiij, To keepe her vengeable mind unto..occasion of revengement. |
c. Of weapons.
| c 1400 Hoccleve Compl. Virgin 179 Wel feele I þat deeth his vengeable bowe Hath bent, & me purposith doun to throwe. 1430–40 Wycliffite Bible, Rom. xiii. 4 (Cardwell MS.), For not withoute cause he berith the vengeable swerd. |
2. Characterized by, arising from, vengeance or revenge; cruel, dreadful.
| c 1430 Hoccleve Min. Poems 71/128 Þat the feend..Ne sese hem nat in the vengeable day! c 1440 J. Capgrave Life St. Kath. iv. 1414 Ȝe shulde not suffren þis cristen foolk here Repreue oure goddis with swiche veniable manere. 1509 Barclay Shyp of Folys (1570) 201 For none..This hurt outchaseth which is so vengeable. 1582 Stanyhurst æneis i. (Arb.) 29 Such folck as the tyrant pursude with vengeabil hatred. 1627 H. Burton Baiting Pope's Bull 18 Iezabell, for all her vengeable malice and impotent fury, yet could not wreck it vpon Elias. |
3. As an intensive: Very great, severe, strong, intense, etc.
| 1532 More Confut. Tindale Wks. 655/2 As the churche of Christe is but one, so be there of those [heretics] a vengeable maynye. 1542 Udall Erasm. Apoph. 49 b, He gave a vengeable check to those persones. 1583 T. Stocker Civ. Warres Lowe C. iv. 61 A mischeuous mistakyng of a matter..bredde a vengeable suspition in the heddes of many. 1601 Deacon & Walker Spirits & Divels To Rdr. 13 [They] will couertly flutter their wings, and keepe a vengeable coyle in Conuenticles and corners. |
b. As adv. = vengeably adv. 2.
| 1542 Udall Erasm. Apoph. 7 Socrates asked wherfore he was so vengeable eagre. 1566 Pasquine in Traunce 48 A vengeable long leape, or a vengeable lowde lye. 1866 Gregor Banffsh. Gloss. 232 He's vengeable greedy; he can hardly be honest. |
4. Punishable. rare—1.
| 1650 S. Clarke Eccl. Hist. i. (1654) 488 [He] delivered him over to the secular power; Declaring that..it was a vengeable matter to eat or drink with him. |