Emily Dickinson Lexicon

RE-TAL'I-ATE, v.t. [Low L. retalio; re and talio, from talis, like.]

To return like for like; to repay or requite by an act of the same kind as has been received. It is now seldom used except in a bad sense, that is, to return evil for evil; as, to retaliate injuries. In war, enemies often retaliate the death or inhuman treatment of prisoners, the burning of towns or the plunder of goods. 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. – Swift.