Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1600-1700
Language: Late Latin
Origin: , past participle of retaliare, from talio 'suitable punishment'

retaliate

 verb
     
re‧tal‧i‧ate [intransitive]
to do something bad to someone because they have done something bad to you [↪ hit back]
retaliate by doing something
The British government retaliated by breaking off diplomatic relations.
retaliate against
The army began to retaliate against the civilian population.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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