Avengement

/əˈvɛndʒ.mənt/ noun

Definition

The act of seeking revenge or the satisfaction obtained from punishing someone who has wronged you.

Etymology

From 'avenge' plus '-ment' (a suffix creating nouns from verbs). This abstract noun emerged to describe the process or result of revenge, similar to 'atonement' or 'bereavement'.

Kelly Says

In Shakespeare's plays, characters pursue 'avengement' across multiple acts, and linguists notice that older English loved '-ment' nouns that created whole philosophical concepts—'avengement' suggests not just revenge but the whole emotional journey from injury to satisfaction.

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