revenge

Where does the word "revenge" come from? It comes from Latin vindicare, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Revenge’s story begins in Latin: vindicare meant “to avenge.” To avenge, combined with re- (again). By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as vengier. The root of 'avenge' and 'vengeance'. It reached English by 1300s as revenge. Formed with re- for the act of hurting someone who has hurt you. Today, revenge means the act of inflicting harm on someone in return for an injury they caused.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient vindicare "to avenge", to avenge, combined with re- (again).
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval vengier "to punish in return for a wrong", the root of 'avenge' and 'vengeance'.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s revenge "the act of hurting someone who has hurt you", formed with re- for the act of hurting someone who has hurt you.