Venge"ance (?), n. [F. vengeance, fr.
venger to avenge, L. vindicare to lay claim to, defend,
avenge, fr. vindex a claimant, defender, avenger, the first part of
which is of uncertain origin, and the last part akin to dicere to
say. See Diction, and cf. Avenge, Revenge,
Vindicate.] 1. Punishment inflicted in return
for an injury or an offense; retribution; -- often, in a bad sense,
passionate or unrestrained revenge.
To me belongeth vengeance and
recompense.
Deut. xxxii. 35.
To execute fierce vengeance on his foes.
Milton.
2. Harm; mischief. [Obs.] Shak.
What a vengeance, or What the
vengeance, what! -- emphatically. [Obs.] "But what a
vengeance makes thee fly!" Hudibras. "What the vengeance!
Could he not speak 'em fair?" Shak. -- With a
vengeance, with great violence; as, to strike with a
vengeance. [Colloq.]