vendetta

views updated May 29 2018

ven·det·ta / venˈdetə/ • n. a blood feud in which the family of a murdered person seeks vengeance on the murderer or the murderer's family. ∎  a prolonged bitter quarrel with or campaign against someone: he has accused the British media of pursuing a vendetta against him.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

vendetta

views updated May 23 2018

vendetta a blood feud in which the family of a murdered person seeks vengeance on the murderer or the murderer's family, especially as traditionally prevalent in Corsica and Sicily. Recorded from the mid 19th century, the word is Italian, and comes from Latin vindicta ‘vengeance’.

The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable ELIZABETH KNOWLES

vendetta

views updated May 29 2018

vendetta blood-feud. XIX. — It.:- L. vindicta vengeance.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

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