1
Stage 1 of 4
reprehendere
Latin · ancient
"to seize back, restrain"
re- 'back' plus prehendere 'to seize'
2
Stage 2 of 4
ripresaglia
Italian · medieval
"a taking back"
from the past participle of riprendere, 'to take back'
3
Stage 3 of 4
reprisaille
Old French · medieval
"retaliatory seizure"
borrowed from Italian for retaliatory seizure of property
4
Stage 4 of 4
reprisal
English · 1400s-1710
"an act of retaliation"
entered for official state-sanctioned seizure in retaliation, later broadened to any retaliatory act
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