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retribution
[ re-truh-byoo-shuhn ]
/ ËrÉ trÉËbyu ÊÉn /
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noun
requital according to merits or deserts, especially for evil.
something given or inflicted in such requital.
Theology. the distribution of rewards and punishments in a future life.
OTHER WORDS FOR retribution
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Origin of retribution
First recorded in 1350â1400; Middle English retribucioun, from Middle French, from Late Latin retribÅ«tiÅn- (stem of retribÅ«tiÅ ) âpunishment, reward as result of judgment,â equivalent to Latin retribÅ«t(us) (past participle of retribuere âto restore, give backâ; see re-, tribute) + -iÅn--ion
synonym study for retribution
1, 2. See revenge.
historical usage of retribution
English retribution ultimately derives from Late Latin retribÅ«tiÅ (inflectional stem retribÅ«tiÅn- ) ârecompense, repayment.â RetribÅ«tiÅ first appears in the Vulgate (the Latin translation of the Christian Bible made chiefly by St. Jerome during the late 4th century), in St. Augustine of Hippoâs City of God (a.d. 413â426), and in the writings of other Latin church fathers.
RetribÅ«tiÅ denotes repayment but connotes payback. RetribÅ«tiÅ is a derivative of the Latin verb retribuere âto return (money) in due turn, hand down a reward or punishment,â a compound of the Latin prefix re- âback, again, back againâ and the verb tribuere âto share, share out, apportion.â
From tribuere is derived the noun tribÅ«tus âa levy, tax, allocation,â which the Romans interpreted as a derivation of tribÅ«tum âa tax, levy, a war tax paid by Roman citizens according to their tribesâ ( tribus ). Tribus, one of the three original, traditional ethnic divisions of the Roman state, is a derivative of trÄs âthree.â
RetribÅ«tiÅ denotes repayment but connotes payback. RetribÅ«tiÅ is a derivative of the Latin verb retribuere âto return (money) in due turn, hand down a reward or punishment,â a compound of the Latin prefix re- âback, again, back againâ and the verb tribuere âto share, share out, apportion.â
From tribuere is derived the noun tribÅ«tus âa levy, tax, allocation,â which the Romans interpreted as a derivation of tribÅ«tum âa tax, levy, a war tax paid by Roman citizens according to their tribesâ ( tribus ). Tribus, one of the three original, traditional ethnic divisions of the Roman state, is a derivative of trÄs âthree.â
Words nearby retribution
retreatant, retreatism, retrench, retrenchment, retrial, retribution, retributive, retributivism, retrieval, retrieve, retriever
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use retribution in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for retribution
retribution
/ (ËrÉtrɪËbjuËÊÉn) /
noun
the act of punishing or taking vengeance for wrongdoing, sin, or injury
punishment or vengeance
Derived forms of retribution
retributive (rɪËtrɪbjÊtɪv) or rare retributory, adjectiveretributively, adverbWord Origin for retribution
C14: via Old French from Church Latin retribÅ«tiÅ, from Latin retribuere to repay, from re- + tribuere to pay; see tribute
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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