Revenge vs. Reciprocity — What's the Difference?

Revenge is defined as the act of committing a harmful action against a person or group in response to a grievance, be it real or perceived. Francis Bacon described revenge as a kind of "wild justice" that "does...

A reciprocal condition or relationship.

To inflict punishment in return for (injury or insult).

A mutual or cooperative interchange of favors or privileges, especially the exchange of rights or privileges of trade between nations.

(Archaic) To seek or take vengeance for (oneself or another person); avenge.

The characteristic of being reciprocal, e.g. of a relationship between people.

The act of taking vengeance for injuries or wrongs; retaliation

A reciprocal relationship.

A desire for revenge; spite or vindictiveness

A relation of mutual dependence or action or influence.

An opportunity to retaliate, as by a return sports match after a defeat

(grammar) A reciprocal construction involves two noun phrases where each of the participants occupies both the role of agent and patient with respect to the other. see: Wikipedia:Reciprocal pronoun.

Something done in retaliation, especially a defeat of a rival who has been victorious.

(international law) The mutual exchange of rights, privileges or obligations between nations. see: Wikipedia:Reciprocity (international relations).

Any form of personal, retaliatory action against an individual, institution, or group for some alleged or perceived harm or injustice.

(psychology) The responses of individuals to the actions of others.

A win by a previous loser.

Mutual action and reaction.

(transitive) To take revenge for (a particular harmful action) or on behalf of (its victim); to avenge.

Reciprocal advantages, obligations, or rights; reciprocation.

To take one's revenge (on or upon someone).

A relation of mutual dependence or action or influence

To take vengeance; to revenge itself.

Mutual exchange of commercial or other privileges

To inflict harm in return for, as an injury, insult, etc.; to exact satisfaction for, under a sense of injury; to avenge; - followed either by the wrong received, or by the person or thing wronged, as the object, or by the reciprocal pronoun as direct object, and a preposition before the wrong done or the wrongdoer.

To inflict injury for, in a spiteful, wrong, or malignant spirit; to wreak vengeance for maliciously.

To take vengeance; - with

The act of revenging; vengeance; retaliation; a returning of evil for evil.

The disposition to revenge; a malignant wishing of evil to one who has done us an injury.

Action taken in return for an injury or offense

Take revenge for a perceived wrong;