Avenges

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To pursue retributive justice in response to an offense against oneself or another, inflicting consequences as a form of moral correction
2. Acts to punish someone who caused harm or injury to oneself or another as a form of justice
3. Seeks to right a wrong by retaliating against those who committed an offense

Etymology: "Avenges" is the third-person singular present of "avenge," so the etymology belongs to the verb itself. The verb reached English from Old French "avengier," itself built from "a-" and "vengier," meaning to take revenge. Middle English took it up as "avengen," and the word has kept its core sense of exacting punishment on behalf of someone wronged. The Old French "vengier" goes back to Latin "vindicare," meaning to claim, lay claim to, or punish. That Latin verb is a relative of "vindex," an avenger or protector, and the same root gave English "vindicate," which once meant to avenge before it came to mean to clear someone of blame. The two words share a Latin ancestor but separated in English, and "avenge" kept the older sense of punishing a wrong.

Synonyms: retaliates, retributes, punishes, redresses, recompenses

Antonyms: forgives, pardons, excuses, absolves, condones