what a vengeance

Vengeance \Venge"ance\, n. [F. vengeance, fr. venger to avenge,
   L. vindicare to lay claim to, defend, avenge, fr. vindex a
   claimant, defender, avenger, the first part of which is of
   uncertain origin, and the last part akin to dicere to say.
   See {Diction}, and cf. {Avenge}, {Revenge}, {Vindicate}.]
   1. Punishment inflicted in return for an injury or an
      offense; retribution; -- often, in a bad sense, passionate
      or unrestrained revenge.
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            To me belongeth vengeance and recompense. --Deut.
                                                  xxxii. 35.
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            To execute fierce vengeance on his foes. --Milton.
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   2. Harm; mischief. [Obs.] --Shak.
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   {What a vengeance}, or {What the vengeance}, what! --
      emphatically. [Obs.] "But what a vengeance makes thee
      fly!" --Hudibras. "What the vengeance! Could he not speak
      'em fair?" --Shak.

   {With a vengeance},
      (a) with great violence; as, to strike with a vengeance.
          [Colloq.]
      (b) with even greater intensity; as, to return one's
          insult with a vengeance.
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