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, ∨ 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.]
© Webster 1913.