\A*venge"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Avenged} (?); p. pr. &
vb. n. {Avenging} (?).] [OF. avengier; L. ad + vindicare to
lay claim to, to avenge, revenge. See {Vengeance}.]
1. To take vengeance for; to exact satisfaction for by
   punishing the injuring party; to vindicate by inflicting
   pain or evil on a wrongdoer.
         He will avenge the blood of his servants. --Deut.
                                               xxxii. 43.
         Avenge, O Lord, thy slaughtered saints, whose bones
         Lie scattered on the Alpine mountains cold.
                                               --Milton.
         He had avenged himself on them by havoc such as
         England had never before seen.        --Macaulay.
2. To treat revengefully; to wreak vengeance on. [Obs.]
         Thy judgment in avenging thine enemies. --Bp. Hall.
Syn: To {Avenge}, {Revenge}.
Usage: To avenge is to inflict punishment upon evil doers in
       behalf of ourselves, or others for whom we act; as, to
       avenge one's wrongs; to avenge the injuries of the
       suffering and innocent. It is to inflict pain for the
       sake of vindication, or retributive justice. To
       revenge is to inflict pain or injury for the
       indulgence of resentful and malicious feelings. The
       former may at times be a duty; the latter is one of
       the worst exhibitions of human character.
             I avenge myself upon another, or I avenge
             another, or I avenge a wrong. I revenge only
             myself, and that upon another.    --C. J. Smith.

\A*venge"\, v. i.
To take vengeance.                             --Levit. xix.
                                               18.

\A*venge"\, n.
Vengeance; revenge. [Obs.] --Spenser.