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 rite
2 : one that is acted on and usually 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