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revanchist

[ruh-van-chist, -vahn-shist]
noun
  1. an advocate or supporter of a political policy of revanche, especially in order to seek vengeance for a previous military defeat.
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adjective
  1. of or relating to a political policy of revanche.
  2. of or relating to revanchists or revanchism.
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Origin of revanchist

1925–30; < French revanchiste; see revanche, -ist
Related formsre·vanch·ism, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
British Dictionary definitions for revanchism

revanchism

noun
  1. a foreign policy aimed at revenge or the regaining of lost territories
  2. desire or support for such a policy
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Derived Formsrevanchist, noun, adjective

Word Origin

C20: from French revanche revenge
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for revanchism

revanchist

n.

"a German seeking to avenge Germany's defeat in World War I and recover lost territory," 1926 (on model of French revanchiste, used in reference to those seeking to reverse the results of the defeat of France by Prussia in 1871), from revanche "revenge, requital," especially in reference to a national policy seeking return of lost territory, from French revanche "revenge," from Middle French revenche, back-formation from revenchier (see revenge (v.)). Related: Revanchism (1954).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper