Vendetta

Intermediate 🏛️ Government / Politics

Definition

A prolonged bitter feud or cycle of revenge between two families, groups, or individuals, where each side seeks retribution for perceived wrongs committed by the other. Vendettas can span generations and involve escalating acts of retaliation.

Example Usage

The two rival gangs had been engaged in a vendetta for over a decade, with neither side willing to forgive.

Origin

From Italian 'vendetta', derived from Latin 'vindicta' (vengeance, punishment).

Fun Fact

The concept of vendetta is deeply embedded in the cultures of Mediterranean regions, particularly Corsica and Sicily, where historical blood feuds shaped family histories and legal traditions.

Source: Definition backfill (hailey)

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