retribution
    n 1: a justly deserved penalty [syn: retribution, requital]
    2: the act of correcting for your wrongdoing
    3: the act of taking revenge (harming someone in retaliation for
       something harmful that they have done) especially in the next
       life; "Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord"--
       Romans 12:19; "For vengeance I would do nothing. This nation
       is too great to look for mere revenge"--James Garfield; "he
       swore vengeance on the man who betrayed him"; "the swiftness
       of divine retribution" [syn: vengeance, retribution,
       payback]

Retribution \Ret`ri*bu"tion\, n. [L. retributio: cf. F.
   r['e]tribution.]
   1. The act of retributing; repayment.
      [1913 Webster]

            In good offices and due retributions, we may not be
            pinching and niggardly.               --Bp. Hall.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. That which is given in repayment or compensation; return
      suitable to the merits or deserts of, as an action;
      commonly, condign punishment for evil or wrong.
      [1913 Webster]

            All who have their reward on earth, . . .
            Naught seeking but the praise of men, here find
            Fit retribution, empty as their deeds. --Milton.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. Specifically, reward and punishment, as distributed at the
      general judgment.
      [1913 Webster]

            It is a strong argument for a state of retribution
            hereafter, that in this world virtuous persons are
            very often unfortunate, and vicious persons
            prosperous.                           --Addison.
      [1913 Webster]

   Syn: Repayment; requital; recompense; payment; retaliation.
        [1913 Webster] Retributive

RETRIBUTION. 1. That which is given to another to recompense him for what 
has been received from him; as a rent for the hire of a house. 2. A salary 
paid to a person for his services. 3. The distribution of rewards and 
punishments. 

RETRIBUTION, n.  A rain of fire-and-brimstone that falls alike upon
the just and such of the unjust as have not procured shelter by
evicting them.
    In the lines following, addressed to an Emperor in exile by Father
Gassalasca Jape, the reverend poet appears to hint his sense of the
improduence of turning about to face Retribution when it is talking
exercise:

    What, what! Dom Pedro, you desire to go
        Back to Brazil to end your days in quiet?
    Why, what assurance have you 'twould be so?
        'Tis not so long since you were in a riot,
        And your dear subjects showed a will to fly at
    Your throat and shake you like a rat.  You know
    That empires are ungrateful; are you certain
    Republics are less handy to get hurt in?