reprisal
An act of retaliationAn act of retaliation.
» You have a right to speak up about mistreatment without fear of reprisal.
Meaning
3 senses(countable, uncountable)An act of retaliation.
Vergeltungsmaßnahme, Repressalie, Vergeltungsschlag
распра́ваraspráva, отве́тная ме́раotvétnaja méra
розпра́ваrozpráva
(archaic, countable, uncountable)Something taken from an enemy in retaliation.
(archaic, countable, uncountable)The act of taking something from an enemy by way of retaliation or indemnity.
- a retaliatory action against an enemy in wartime
Examples
2 sentencesYou have a right to speak up about mistreatment without fear of reprisal.
General Jackson vowed a reprisal for the death of his men.
Translations
7 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 1
By meaning 1
Origin
From Anglo-Norman reprisaille (French représaille), from Old Italian ripresaglia (ItalianFrom Anglo-Norman reprisaille (French représaille), from Old Italian ripresaglia (Italian rappresaglia), from ripreso, past participle of riprendere (“to take back”), from Latin reprendere, earlier reprehendere (see reprehend).
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Forms
plural: reprisalsWord family
3 related wordsLessons for this word
1 lessons- A1Countable and uncountable nouns — Because it can be uncountable