vengeance, n., adv., and a.
(ˈvɛndʒəns)
Forms: α. 4 veniance, -iaunce, -y(e)aunce, 4–5 venieaunce, 5 veniauns, -iawnce, weniaunce; 4 veniounse, 5 venions. β. 4 vengaunse, 4–6 -aunce, 4–5 -ance, -ans; 4 vengiaunce, 5 -anse, 6 -ans; 4 vengeans, 4–6 -aunce, 4– vengeance (7 veng'ance), 6 vengence; 4 wengans, -anz, -aunce, -eans, -eance, 4, 6 Sc., wengance, 6 Sc. wengence.
[a. AF. veniaunce, -ance, veng(e)aunce, -ance, = OF. and F. vengeance (It. vengianza, Sp. venganza, Pg. vinganza), f. venger venge v.]
1. The act of avenging oneself or another; retributive infliction of injury or punishment; hurt or harm done from vindictive motives.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 827 Son bigan wenganz to kiþe. Ibid. 13184 But þis ded was sald ful dere,..Wit a greithful soth vengeance. c 1315 Shoreham iii. 248 He þat spilleþ mannes lyf, Veniounse hyt schel acwyte. c 1380 Wyclif Serm. Sel. Wks. I. 149 Þis is noo good praier, but more axinge of Goddis venjaunce. a 1450 Knt. de la Tour (1868) 37 She tolde..that it was the uengeaunce of God that fell on her, the whiche she had welle deserued. 1474 Caxton Chesse ii. iv. (1883) 53 For hit is the most hyest and fayr vengeance that a man may doo. 1535 Coverdale Ps. xciii. 1 Thou God to whom vengeaunce belongeth, shewe thy self. 1592 Kyd Murther I. Brewen Wks. (1901) 287 The blood of the iust Abel cried..for vengeance and reuenge on the murderer. 1613 Purchas Pilgrimage (1614) 156 Diuine mercie..remoued the Christians to Pella out of the danger, that without any impediment the floud-gates of vengeance might bee set wide open for Desolations black-guard to enter. 1667 Milton P.L. i. 170 But see the angry Victor hath recall'd His Ministers of vengeance and pursuit Back to the Gates of Heav'n. 1757 Gray Bard 96 Stamp we our vengeance deep, and ratify his doom. 1769 Junius Lett. xv. (1788) 92 The injuries you have done..demand not only redress, but vengeance. 1837 W. Irving Capt. Bonneville III. 67 Alarm signals, to arouse the country and collect the scattered bands for vengeance. 1891 Farrar Darkn. & Dawn xxv, That in some way she regarded Britannicus..as the ultimate resource of her vengeance and despair. |
b. In the phrase to take (also † nim) vengeance.
| 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 6859 Þe king..suor he nolde abide, Þat he nolde uerst nyme vengaunce in is side. a 1300 Cursor M. 6094 Þair goddes i me on wil wrake, O þam mi wengeance sal i take. c 1386 Chaucer Melib. ¶ 49 Savinge your grace, I can nat seen that it mighte greetly harme me though I toke vengeaunce. c 1400 Rom. Rose 5780 God can wel vengeaunce therof take. c 1400 Mandeville (Roxb.) xii. 51 In taken of þe vengeaunce þat Godd tuke on þa fyue citeez. 1460 J. Capgrave Chron. (Rolls) 106 He receyved him with grete worchip, took veniauns on his enimes. c 1489 Caxton Sonnes of Aymon ii. 59 Vengance we sholde take therof. 1526 Tindale Rom. xiii. 4 To take vengeaunce on them that do evyll. 1611 Shakes. Cymb. v. i. 8 Gods, if you Should haue 'tane vengeance on my faults, I neuer Had liu'd to put on this. 1727 Bailey (vol. II), Avenger, one who takes Vengeance on an Offender. 1808 Scott Marm. ii. xxxi, Full soon such vengeance will he take, That [etc.]. 1847 S. Austin Ranke's Hist. Ref. III. 17 The strong city of Pavia, on which cruel vengeance was taken for the resistance it had made. |
c. Personified or otherwise regarded as an entity.
| 1602 Shakes. Ham. ii. ii. 510 Arowsed Vengeance sets him new a-worke. 1642 D. Rogers Naaman 39 Left to conflict nakedly with hell and vengeance, till it carry them away quicke. 1721 Young Revenge ii. i, Vengeance is still alive; from her dark covert..She stalks in view. 1799 Campbell Pleas. Hope i. 395 Where was thine arm, O Vengeance! a 1839 Praed Red Fisherman, Look how the fearful felon gazes On the scaffold his country's vengeance raises. 1891 Marie A. Brown tr. Runeberg's Nadeschda 67 Then saw I vengeance beckon, it lit my path In years of woe. |
2. With a and pl. An act or instance of retributive or vindictive punishment. (Also as in 1 c.)
| a 1300 Cursor M. 1592 For-þi in forme of iugement He thoght a neu wengaunce to sent. c 1400 Sowdone Bab. 14 For the offences to God i-doon Many vengeaunces haue be⁓falle. c 1440 Jacob's Well 41 Foure vengaunces comyn to man here in erthe for fals tythyng. c 1480 Henryson Fables, Wolf & Lamb xxi, It cryis ane vengeance vnto the heuinnis hie. 1659 Hammond On Ps. cix. 6–10 Sad executions, judgments, and vengeances. a 1704 T. Brown Sat. agst. Woman Wks. 1730 I. 56 He falls a willing pris'ner to her arms, There meets a veng'ance of ne'er-ending harms. 1718 Pope Iliad xiii. 832 With his full strength he bent his angry bow, And wing'd the feather'd vengeance at the foe. 1728 P. Walker Life Peden (1901) I. 155 Hasty marriages are sudden vengeances. 1791 Burke App. Whigs Wks. VI. 220 Taking..a cruel vengeance on these deluded wretches. 1838 Thirlwall Greece xxxi. IV. 201 Thrasybulus..animated his men by..the prospect of a just vengeance. 1873 R. Broughton Nancy I. 45, I am planning five distinct and lengthy vengeances against Bobby. |
b. In imprecations, usually with on. Also rarely without article. Obs. or arch.
| ? a 1500 Chester Pl. xiii. 164 Must we afore the pharisies appeare? A vengeance on them, far and neere! 1562 J. Heywood Prov. & Epigr. (1867) 178 A vengeance on that lame iade. 1591 Shakes. Two Gent. ii. iii. 21 A veng'ance on't, there 'tis. 1604 [? Chettle] Wit of Woman G 4 b, A vengeance pepper such braines, as cannot beare one draught of Ipocras. 1814 Scott Wav. xxx, D'ye think the lads..will care for..yer stool o' repentance? Vengeance on the black face o't! |
c. A person of a violent temper.
| 1711–2 Swift Jrnl. to Stella 21 Mar., The D― he is! married to that vengeance!.. Who would have her? |
3. Used to strengthen interrogations. ? Obs.
| 1598 R. Bernard tr. Terence (1607) 167 Thr. Where are the other? San. What other in a vengeance. 1607 Shakes. Cor. iii. i. 262, I would they were in Tyber. What the vengeance, could he not speake 'em faire? 1620 Frier Rush 28 His wife..said vnto him: what a vengance needest thou to take a seruant? 1663 Butler Hud. i. iii. 213 But what a-vengeance makes thee fly From me too, as thine Enemy? a 1779 D. Graham Writings (1883) II. 40 What the vengeance uncle, sudna fouks die when they're auld? 1828 Scott F.M. Perth vi, Art thou beside thyself, boy? or what a vengeance takes thee from the city, like the wing of the whirlwind? |
4. with a vengeance: † a. With a curse or malediction. Obs.
| 1525 W. Smith Merry Iests Widow Edyth (1573) D j b, In she goth,..And came out agayne, saying w{supt} a vengeaunce: They must go by water. 1581 Hanmer Jesuites Banner E 2 b, Let such then goe with a vengeaunce, and leaue those toyes for Poets to prate of and let them preach better stuffe vnto the people. 1598 R. Bernard tr. Terence, Andria ii. i, Abi hinc in malam crucem. Away with a vengeance: get thee hence with a mischiefe: goe hence with sorrow enough. 1635 R. N. tr. Camden's Hist. Eliz. iv. 493 The Queene..waxing impatient gave him [Essex] a cuffe on the eare and bade him be gone with a vengeance. 1673 Vinegar & Mustard (Hindley) III. 8 You are land-sick now, and not sea-sick, with a vengeance to you for me. 1836 Carlyle in Froude Life in London I. 70 Why not quit literature—with a vengeance to it—and turn, were it even to sheep herding? |
b. As an intensive: With great force or violence; in an extreme degree; to an unusual extent.
| 1568 V. Skinner tr. Montanus' Inquisition 24 b, He shall come downe with a vengeaunce. 1594 Greene & Lodge Looking Gl. i. ii. 236 A plaister..that mends him with a verie vengeance. 1611 Middleton & Dekker Roaring Girle M j, Are you too well, too happy? Alex. With a vengeance. 1654 H. L'Estrange Chas. I (1655) 88 The furious multitude..struck him down, and malled him with a vengeance. 1673 [R. Leigh] Transp. Reh. 63 Accordingly he lays it on with a vengeance. 1711 ‘J. Distaff’ Char. Don Sacheverellio 6 This..is proving the..Existence of Gyants..with a Vengeance. 1761 Foote Liar ii. Wks. 1799 I. 293 His friends..gloss over his foible, by calling him an agreeable novelist: and so he is, with a vengeance. 1834 L. Ritchie Wand. by Seine 94 Some readers will think that we are drawing our traveller's bow with a vengeance. 1867 M. Arnold Celtic Lit. 29 Here, at any rate, are materials enough with a vengeance. |
† c. So with the vengeance. Obs.—1
| 1693 Humours Town 29 This is following the Dictates of Reason with the vengeance. |
† 5. As adv. a. Extremely, intensely. Obs.
| 1548 [L. Shepherd] John Bon & Mast person (1808) 5 Is not here a mischeuous thynge? The Messe is vengaunce holye for all ther sayeinge. 1566 Pasquine in Traunce 41, I remember that disputation. It is vengeaunce subtile. Ibid. 44 They were also vengeance angry against the Pope. 1607 Shakes. Cor. ii. ii. 6 That's a braue fellow: but hee's vengeance prowd. a 1616 Beaum. & Fl. Little Fr. Lawyer ii. i, How it grumbles! This Sword is vengeance angry. 1710–11 Swift Jrnl. to Stella 21 Jan., It has snowed terribly all night, and is vengeance cold. |
† b. Not at all, never. Obs.
| 1556 J. Heywood Spider & Fly xxxix. 7 Vengeance the whit I am for their woordes the nere. |
† 6. As adj. Very great or large. Obs.—1
| 1602 W. Fulbecke 2nd Pt. Parall. Introd. 4, I bought the booke..because it was in English: yet there is a vengeance deale of Latin in it. |
7. attrib. and Comb., as vengeance-cryer, vengeance-crying, vengeance-oath, vengeance-scathed, vengeance-sword, vengeance-taking.
| c 1386 Chaucer Melib. ¶65 For al-be-it so that alle tarying be anoyful, algates it is nat to repreve in yevinge of Iugement, ne in vengeance-taking, whan it is suffisant and resonable. c 1515 Cocke Lorell's B. 11 Cursers, chyders, and grete vengeaunce cryers. 1608 Sylvester Du Bartas ii. iv. Schisme 1061 Lord, sheath again thy vengeance-sword a space. 1617 A. Newman Pleas. Vis. 15 Haples wretches, with the memory Tortur'd of woe, and vengeance-crying Sins. 1838 S. Bellamy Betrayal 43 When o'erthrown In first rebellion, vengeance-scathed he fled. 1844 Mrs. Browning Duchess May xxviii, Thou and I have parted troth,—yet I keep my vengeance-oath. |
Hence † ˈvengeancely adv.; † ˈvengeancer.
| c 1440 Promp. Parv. 508/2 Veniawncere,..vendicator, ultor, vindex. c 1622 Fletcher Prophetess i. iii, Yet I could poyson him in a Pot of Perry, He loves that veng'ancely. |