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The Collaborative International Dictionary
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.]