“vengeance” – English explanatory dictionary

noun 1. harm caused to someone in return for harm he or she has caused you ○ He has vowed to exact vengeance for the wrong done to his family. ○ She is seeking vengeance for the killing of her child. 2. □ with a vengeance very strongly (informal.) ○ The rain came down again with a vengeance.

n. [F. vengeance, fr. venger to avenge, L. vindicare to lay claim to, defend, avenge, fr. vindex a claimant, defender, avenger, the first part of which is of uncertain origin, and the last part akin to dicere to say. See Diction, and cf. Avenge, Revenge, Vindicate.]
1. Punishment inflicted in return for an injury or an offense; retribution; — often, in a bad sense, passionate or unrestrained revenge. “To me belongeth vengeance and recompense.” Deut. xxxii. 35. “To execute fierce vengeance on his foes.” Milton.
2. Harm; mischief. [Obs.] Shak. What a vengeance, or What the vengeance, what! — emphatically. [Obs.] ´But what a vengeance makes thee fly!´ Hudibras. ´What the vengeance! Could he not speak ’em fair?´ Shak. — With a vengeance, with great violence; as to strike with a vengeance. [Colloq.]