Main Entry:

re·tal·i·ate

Pronunciation:

\ri-ˈta-lē-ˌāt\

Function:

verb

Inflected Form(s):

re·tal·i·at·ed; re·tal·i·at·ing

Etymology:

Late Latin retaliatus, past participle of retaliare, from Latin re- + talio legal retaliation

Date:

1611

transitive verb: to repay (as an injury) in kindintransitive verb: to return like for like ; especially : to get revenge

synonyms see reciprocate

— re·tal·i·a·tion \ri-ˌta-lē-ˈā-shən, ˌrē-\ noun

— re·tal·i·a·tive \ri-ˈta-lē-ˌā-tiv\ adjective

— re·tal·ia·to·ry \-ˈtal-yə-ˌtȯr-ē, -ˈta-lē-ə-\ adjective