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retribution

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Retribution is defined as something done to get back at someone or the act of punishing someone for their actions.

(noun)

An example of retribution is when someone gets the death penalty for committing murder.

See retribution in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

punishment for evil done or reward for good done; requital

Origin: ME retribucioun < OFr retribution < LL(Ec) retributio < L retributus, pp. of retribuere, to repay < re-, back + tribuere, to pay: see tribute

Related Forms:

retributive adjective or retributory
retributively adverb

See retribution in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

Something justly deserved; recompense.
Something given or demanded in repayment, especially punishment.
Theology Punishment or reward distributed in a future life based on performance in this one.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English retribucion

Origin: , from Old French retribution

Origin: , from Latin retribūtiō, retribūtiōn-

Origin: , from retribūtus

Origin: , past participle of retribuere, to pay back

Origin: : re-, re-

Origin: + tribuere, to grant; see tribe

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