Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “vengeance” come from?

Vengeance comes from Old French vengeaunce, derived from Old French venjance with the suffix Old French -ance, which developed from Latin -antia.

vengeance (English): Revenge taken for an insult, injury, or other...

Definitions

  1. Revenge taken for an insult, injury, or other...

Ancestry of “vengeance”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Anglo-NormanvengeaunceAlternative form of venjance
2Old FrenchvengeanceAlternative form of venjance
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 “vengeance”

  • vengeaunce
  • vengeancely
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →