retribution
From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
See also: rétribution
Etymology
| PIE word |
|---|
| *tréyes |
From Latin retribuere (“repay”).
Pronunciation
Noun
retribution (countable and uncountable, plural retributions)
- Punishment inflicted in the spirit of moral outrage or personal vengeance.
- 1983, Richard A. Posner, The economics of justice, m p.208:
- Whereas retribution focuses on the offender's wrong, retaliation focuses on the impulse of the victim (or of those who sympathize with him) to strike back at the offender.
- 1999, Barbara Hanawalt, Medieval crime and social control, page 73:
- 1. Revenge is for an injury; retribution is for a wrong.
2. Retribution sets an internal limit to the amount of the punishment according to the seriousness of the wrong; revenge need not.
3. Revenge is personal; the agent of retribution need have no special or personal tie to the victim of the wrong for which he exacts retribution.
4. Revenge involves a particular emotional tone, pleasure in the suffering of another, while retribution need involve no emotional tone.
Synonyms
- See also Thesaurus:revenge
Hypernyms
Related terms
Translations
punishment inflicted in the spirit of moral outrage or personal vengeance
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