[vic.tim] n [ME vyctym, fr. L victima; perh. akin to OHG wih holy] (15c) 1: a living being sacrificed to a deity or in the performance of a religious rite
2: one that is acted on and usu. adversely affected by a force or agent "the schools are ~s of the social system": as a (1): one that is injured, destroyed, or sacrificed under any of various conditions "a ~ of cancer" "a ~ of the auto crash" "a murder ~" (2): one that is subjected to oppression, hardship, or mistreatment "a frequent ~ of political attacks" b: one that is tricked or duped "a con man's ~" -- vic.tim.hood n