■ noun punishment inflicted as vengeance for a wrong or criminal act.
Derivatives
retributive rɪ'trɪbjʊtɪv adjective
retributory rɪ'trɪbjʊt(ə)ri adjective
Origin
ME: from late L. retributio(n-) , from retribut- , retribuere 'assign again'.
■ noun punishment inflicted as vengeance for a wrong or criminal act.
Derivatives
retributive rɪ'trɪbjʊtɪv adjective
retributory rɪ'trɪbjʊt(ə)ri adjective
Origin
ME: from late L. retributio(n-) , from retribut- , retribuere 'assign again'.
Concise Oxford English vocab. Сжатый оксфордский словарь английского языка. 2004