retaliate

• POS: Verb (intransitive), Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: re=tal=i=ate

CIDE DICTIONARY

retaliate, v. t. [L. retaliatus, p. p. of retaliare to retaliate; pref. re- re- + a word akin to talio talion, retaliation. Cf. Talion.].

 To return the like for; to repay or requite by an act of the same kind; to return evil for (evil). [Now seldom used except in a bad sense.]  [1913 Webster]
"One ambassador sent word to the duke's son that his visit should be retaliated."  [1913 Webster]
"It is unlucky to be obliged to retaliate the injuries of authors, whose works are so soon forgotten that we are in danger of appearing the first aggressors."  [1913 Webster]

retaliate, v. i. 

 To return like for like; specifically, to return evil for evil; as, to retaliate upon an enemy.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

retaliate, v.
1 intr. repay an injury, insult, etc., in kind; attack in return; make reprisals.
2 tr. a (usu. foll. by upon) cast (an accusation) back upon a person. b repay (an injury or insult) in kind.

Derivative

retaliation n. retaliative adj. retaliator n. retaliatory adj.

Etymology

L retaliare (as RE-, talis such)

THESAURUS

retaliate

alternate, atone, avenge, bandy, be quits with, change, come back at, commute, compensate, cooperate, counter, counterchange, cover, do penance, even the score, exchange, expiate, fill up, get back at, get even with, give, give and take, give in exchange, give in return, hit back at, indemnify, interchange, launch a vendetta, logroll, make amends, make compensation, make good, make up for, pay back, permute, reciprocate, recompense, rectify, repay, requite, respond, retort, return, return the compliment, revenge, set right, strike back, swap, switch, take revenge, trade, transpose

ROGET THESAURUS

retaliate

Retaliation

VB retaliate, retort, turn upon, pay, pay off, pay back, pay in one's own coin, pay in the same coin, cap, reciprocate, turn the tables upon, return the compliment, give a quid pro quo, give as much as one takes, give as good as one gets, give and take, exchange fisticuffs, be quits, be even with, pay off old scores, serve one right, be hoist on one's own petard, throw a stone in one's own garden, catch a Tartar.

Interchange

VB interchange, exchange, counterchange, bandy, transpose, shuffle, change bands, swap, permute, reciprocate, commute, give and take, return the compliment, play at puss in the corner, play at battledore and shuttlecock, retaliate, requite, rearrange, recombine.