Retaliate Definition

rĭ-tălē-āt
retaliated, retaliates, retaliating
verb
retaliated, retaliates, retaliating
To do something in response to an action done to oneself or an associate, especially to attack or injure someone as a response to a hurtful action.
American Heritage
To return an injury, wrong, etc. for (an injury, wrong, etc. given); requite in kind.
Webster's New World
To return like for like; esp., to return evil for evil; pay back injury for injury.
Webster's New World

Origin of Retaliate

  • From Latin retaliatus, past participle of retaliare (“to requite, retaliate"), from re (“back, again") + talis (“such").

    From Wiktionary

  • Late Latin retāliāre retāliāt- Latin re- re- Latin tāliō punishment in kind telə- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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