Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “avenge” come from?

Avenge comes from Middle English avengen, from Old French avengier, composed of the Old French prefix a- (from Latin ad-) and Old French vengier, ultimately deriving from Latin roots meaning "to punish or take vengeance."

avenge (English): To take vengeance ; to exact satisfaction for by...

Definitions

  1. To take vengeance ; to exact satisfaction for by...

Ancestry of “avenge”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishavengen—
2Old Frenchavengierto avenge
3Old Frenchvengierto avenge, to take revenge
4Latinvindicō—
5Latinvindexclaimant, vindicator
6Latindīcō—
7Latin-tiō—
8Latindissertātiō—
9Latindissertusarranged, disposed; explained
10Latindissereresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
11Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
12Latincalceusshoe
13Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
14Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble

Words derived from “avenge”

  • avenger
  • venger
  • avengement
  • avengeth
  • avengeful
  • avengeress
  • avengest
  • avengeance
  • unavengeable
  • avengeable
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →