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an eye for an eye

eye
A a

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [ahy]
    • /ən ˈī fɔr ən ˈī/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [ahy]
    • /ən ˈī fɔr ən ˈī/

Definitions of an eye for an eye words

  • phrase an eye for an eye You say 'an eye for an eye' or 'an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth' to refer to the idea that people should be punished according to the way in which they offended, for example if they hurt someone, they should be hurt equally badly in return. 3
  • noun an eye for an eye retributive or vengeful justice; retaliation 3
  • noun an eye for an eye punishment or retaliation similar or equivalent to the injury suffered 3
  • noun plural an eye for an eye the organ of sight, in vertebrates typically one of a pair of spherical bodies contained in an orbit of the skull and in humans appearing externally as a dense, white, curved membrane, or sclera, surrounding a circular, colored portion, or iris, that is covered by a clear, curved membrane, or cornea, and in the center of which is an opening, or pupil, through which light passes to the retina. 1
  • noun plural an eye for an eye the aggregate of structures situated within or near the orbit that assist, support, or protect the eye. 1
  • noun plural an eye for an eye this organ with respect to the color of the iris: blue eyes. 1
See all 59 definitions of an eye for an eye

Information block about the term

Origin of an eye for an eye

First appearance:

before 900
One of the 4% oldest English words
before 900; Middle English eie, ie, Old English ēge, variant of ēage; cognate with German Auge; akin to Latin oculus, Greek ṓps, Sanskrit akṣi

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for An eye for an eye

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
Full grammatical hierarchy of An eye for an eye

an eye for an eye popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 99% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

an eye for an eye usage trend in Literature

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Synonyms for an eye for an eye

noun an eye for an eye

  • retribution — requital according to merits or deserts, especially for evil.
  • counterpoise — a force, influence, etc, that counterbalances another
  • counterblow — a retaliatory blow
  • revenge — to exact punishment or expiation for a wrong on behalf of, especially in a resentful or vindictive spirit: He revenged his murdered brother.
  • reprisal — (in warfare) retaliation against an enemy, for injuries received, by the infliction of equal or greater injuries.
All 26 Synonyms of an eye for an eye

Antonyms for an eye for an eye

noun an eye for an eye

  • forgiveness — act of forgiving; state of being forgiven.
  • pardon — kind indulgence, as in forgiveness of an offense or discourtesy or in tolerance of a distraction or inconvenience: I beg your pardon, but which way is Spruce Street?
  • sympathy — harmony of or agreement in feeling, as between persons or on the part of one person with respect to another.
All 3 Antonyms of an eye for an eye

See also

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