Main Entry:

vic·tim

Pronunciation:

\ˈvik-təm\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Latin victima; perhaps akin to Old High German wīh holy

Date:

15th century

1: a living being sacrificed to a deity or in the performance of a religious rite2: one that is acted on and usu. adversely affected by a force or agent <the schools are victims of the social system>: as a (1): one that is injured, destroyed, or sacrificed under any of various conditions <a victim of cancer> <a victim of the auto crash> <a murder victim> (2): one that is subjected to oppression, hardship, or mistreatment <a frequent victim of political attacks> b: one that is tricked or duped <a con man's victim>

— vic·tim·hood \-ˌhu̇d\ noun