What is "what a vengeance"

Vengeance \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.]