n.
Pronunciation: ri- ' pr ī -z ə l
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English reprisail, from Anglo-French reprisaile, from Medieval Latin represalia, from Old Italian rappresaglia, ultimately from ripreso, past participle of riprendere to take back, from ri- re- (fr. Latin re- ) + prendere to take, from Latin prehendere ― more at GET
Date: 15th century
1 a : the act or practice in international law of resorting to force short of war in retaliation for damage or loss suffered b : an instance of such action
2 obsolete : PRIZE
3 : the regaining of something (as by recapture)
4 : something (as a sum of money) given or paid in restitution ― usually used in plural
5 : a retaliatory act