Reprisal Definition
rĭ-prīzəl
reprisals
noun
The forcible seizure of property or subjects in retaliation for an injury inflicted by another country.
Webster's New World
The act or practice of using force, short of war, against another nation to obtain redress of grievances.
Webster's New World
Injury done, or the doing of injury, in return for injury received; retaliation or an act of retaliation, specif. in war, as the killing of prisoners.
Webster's New World
(archaic) Something taken from an enemy in retaliation.
Wiktionary
Synonyms:
Other Word Forms of Reprisal
Noun
Singular:
reprisal
Plural:
reprisalsOrigin of Reprisal
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Middle English reprisail from Old French reprisaille from Old Italian ripresaglia from ripreso past participle of riprendere to take back from Latin reprehendere, reprēndere to take hold of reprehend
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
From French "représailles", formerly "reprisailles", originally from Italian "rappresaglia".
From Wiktionary
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