reprisal

Where does the word "reprisal" come from? It comes from Latin reprehendere, passing through Italian and Old French before entering English (1400s-1710).

Reprisal’s story begins in Latin: reprehendere meant “to seize back, restrain.” Re- 'back' plus prehendere 'to seize'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Italian as ripresaglia. From the past participle of riprendere, 'to take back'. From there it passed into Old French as reprisaille by medieval. 'letters of reprisal' licensed privateers to seize enemy ships. It reached English by 1400s-1710 as reprisal. Entered for official state-sanctioned seizure in retaliation, later broadened to any retaliatory act. Today, reprisal means an act of retaliation, especially in response to an attack.

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