Webster's English Dictionary

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retribution

ret.ri.bu.tion \.re-tr*-'byu:-sh*n\ n [ME retribucioun, fr. MF retribution, 
   fr. LL retribution-, Xretribution, fr. L retributus, pp. of retribuere to 
   pay back, fr. re- + tribuere to pay - more at TRIBUTE 1: RECOMPENSE, REWARD 
    2: the dispensing or receiving of reward or punishment esp. in the 
   hereafte r 3: something given or extracted in recompense; esp : 
   PUNISHMENT)M