World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English DictionariesRetribution
/ˌrɛtrɪˈbjuːʃən/Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
2 senses- 1
Punishment that is considered to be morally right and fully deserved in response to a wrong or crime.
"The criminal faced swift retribution for his fraudulent actions against the investors." - 2
Recompense or reward for a service or action, though predominantly used in modern contexts to denote retributive justice.
"He expected no retribution for his charitable acts, seeking only to help those in need."
Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
Derived from the Latin 'retributio', stemming from 'retribuere' (to pay back), composed of 're-' (back) and 'tribuere' (to assign or bestow). It entered Middle English via Old French in the 15th century, initially denoting the concept of divine reward or punishment, before narrowing in modern usage to signify severe deserved punishment or vengeance.
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10 Global Lexicons: How "Retribution" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
châtiment
Transliteration: /ʃa.ti.mɑ̃/
"Il attendait un juste châtiment pour ses actes."
Vergeltung
Transliteration: /fɛɐ̯ˈɡɛltʊŋ/
"Sie forderten strenge Vergeltung für das begangene Unrecht."
retribuzione
Transliteration: /re.tri.buˈt͡sjo.ne/
"Temeva la retribuzione divina per le sue bugie."
retribución
Transliteration: /re.tɾi.βuˈsjon/
"El dictador temía la retribución del pueblo ofendido."
retribuição
Transliteration: /ʁe.tɾi.buˈsɐ̃w̃/
"Eles buscavam retribuição pelos danos causados."
सबक सिखाना
Transliteration: sabak sikhana
Script: किसी को सबक सिखाना
"उसने गलतफहमी दूर करने के लिए उसे सबक सिखाना चाहा।"
报应
Transliteration: bàoyìng
"作恶多端的人终将受到报应。"
응징
Transliteration: eungjing
"그들은 범죄자에 대한 강력한 응징을 요구했다."
報復
Transliteration: hōfuku
"彼は裏切り行為に対する厳しい報復を受けた。"
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