avenge

C2+ Topic:Actions & Processes

US /əˈvɛndʒ/ UK /əˈvɛndʒ/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

verb
to inflict harm in return for a wrong done

He swore to avenge his brother's murder before the year was out.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to inflict harm in return... revenge retaliate requite vindicate punish redress

Opposites

forgive pardon absolve excuse

Word family

Forms unavenged

Derived forms avengeravengementavenging

Related forms vengeancevengefulrevenge vindicate

Simplified etymology

Avenge entered English in the late Middle Ages and ultimately derives from Latin vindicare, “to claim” or “to avenge.” It shares this Latin root with revenge and vindicate.

Etymology

From Old French avengier, from a- (Latin ad-, 'to') + vengier ('to take vengeance'), from Latin vindicare ('to claim, avenge'), from vindex ('avenger, claimant').

vindicare Latin vindex Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# avenge

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /əˈvɛndʒ/
**IPA (UK):** /əˈvɛndʒ/

## Meanings
1. to inflict harm in return for a wrong done

## Examples
- He swore to avenge his brother's murder before the year was out.

## Synonyms
- revenge
- retaliate
- requite
- vindicate
- punish
- redress

## Antonyms
- forgive
- pardon
- absolve
- excuse

## Derived Forms
- avenger
- avengement
- avenging

## Related Forms
- vengeance
- vengeful
- revenge
- vindicate

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: vindicare
- Root: vindex

## Etymology
From Old French avengier, from a- (Latin ad-, 'to') + vengier ('to take vengeance'), from Latin vindicare ('to claim, avenge'), from vindex ('avenger, claimant').

## AI Etymology
Avenge is a verb meaning "to inflict harm in return for a wrong done". Historically, it is from Old French avengier, from a- (Latin ad-, 'to') + vengier ('to take vengeance'), from Latin vindicare ('to claim, avenge'), from vindex ('avenger, claimant'). The visible construction is part of the etymology: avenge is not just an unanalyzed simple word. The historical chain links Latin vindicare with Latin vindex. Close English family members include avenger, avengement, avenging, vengeance, and vengeful.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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