avenge

The definition of avenge is to get revenge for or punish someone for a wrongdoing.

(verb)

Throwing eggs at someone's car after they threw eggs at your house is an example of to avenge.

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See avenge in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb, intransitive verb avenged, avenging

  1. to get revenge for (an injury, wrong, etc.)
  2. to take vengeance on behalf of, as for a wrong

Origin: ME avengen < OFr avengier < a- (L ad), to + vengier < L vindicare, to claim: see vindicate

Related Forms:

See avenge in American Heritage Dictionary 4

transitive verb a·venged, a·veng·ing, a·veng·es
  1. To inflict a punishment or penalty in return for; revenge: avenge a murder.
  2. To take vengeance on behalf of: avenged their wronged parents.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English avengen

Origin: , from Old French avengier

Origin: : a-, to (from Latin ad-; see ad-)

Origin: + vengier, to vindicate (from Latin vindicāre, to claim; see vindicate)

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Related Forms:

  • a·vengˈer noun
  • a·vengˈing·ly adverb

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