a. and adv. Obs. or dial. Forms: 4–5 veniable, 5–7 vengable, vengeable (6 uen-); 5 vengeabyl, -yll(e, -abil. [a. AF. vengable (Gower), f. venger VENGE v. Cf. VENGIBLE a.]
1. Inclined or ready to take vengeance or inflict retaliative injury. (Cf. VENGEFUL a. 1.)
a. Of persons (or animals).
Very common c. 1400–1550; in mod. dial. use = destructive.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., II. 189. For ȝif he were veniable here no man myȝte suffre his veniaunce.
1390. Gower, Conf., II. 119. Such a Sor is incurable, And ek the goddes ben vengable.
c. 1400. Lydg., in Pol., Rel. & L. Poems (1903), 48. Where god list spare, a tygre is not vengeable.
1421. Hoccleve, Min. Poems, 153. Al-thogh þat shee were in this cas vengeable,… Shee was in þat in partie excusable.
c. 1450. Mirk’s Festial, 140. Forto schew you how vengabull God ys apon hom þat ben lef forto sched Cristys blod.
1529. S. Fish, Supplic. Beggers, 3. Whate tiraunt euer oppressed the people like this cruell and vengeable generacion?
1547. Boorde, Introd. Knowl., xvii. (1870), 167. There is a beast called a Bouy, lyke a Bugle, whyche is a vengeable beast.
1573. G. Harvey, Letter-bk. (Camden), 138. To be notoriously revenged on this vengeable feende.
c. 1610. Sir J. Melvil, Mem. (1735), 206. The Appetites of envious, vengeable and greedy Counsellors.
1640. Bastwick, Lord Bishops, iii. C 3. Who should prove the most vengable Instruments of persecuting and oppressing Gods true children.
1866. Gregor, Banffsh. Gloss., 232. Rottans are vengeable craiturs on young deuks.
b. Of the mind, will, etc.
1411–2. Hoccleve, De Reg. Princ., 2330. He rathir chees be disobedient To his vengeable wil,… Than be forsworn of þat he swoor so depe.
1513. Bradshaw, St. Werburge, I. 1041. His vengeable mynde was hymselfe to magnyfy … Or destroye hymselfe.
1539. Cromwell, in Merriman, Life & Lett. (1902), II. 169. His Inique covetous and vengeable disposicion.
1540. Hyrde, trans. Vives’ Instr. Chr. Wom. (1592), H iiij. To keepe her vengeable mind unto … occasion of revengement.
c. Of weapons.
c. 1400. Hoccleve, Compl. Virgin, 179. Wel feele I þat deeth his vengeable bowe Hath bent, & me purposith doun to throwe.
1430–40. Wycliffite Bible, Rom. xiii. 4 (Cardwell MS.). For not withoute cause he berith the vengeable swerd.
2. Characterized by, arising from, vengeance or revenge; cruel, dreadful.
c. 1430. Hoccleve, Min. Poems, 71/128. Þat the feend … Ne sese hem nat in the vengeable day!
c. 1440. Capgrave, Life St. Kath., IV. 1414. Ȝe shulde not suffren þis cristen foolk here Repreue oure goddis with swiche veniable manere.
1509. Barclay, Shyp of Folys (1570), 201. For none … This hurt outchaseth which is so vengeable.
1582. Stanyhurst, Æneis, I. (Arb.), 29. Such folck as the tyrant pursude with vengeabil hatred.
1627. H. Burton, Baiting Pope’s Bull, 18. Iezabell, for all her vengeable malice and impotent fury, yet could not wreck it vpon Elias.
3. As an intensive: Very great, severe, strong, intense, etc.
1532. More, Confut. Tindale, Wks. 655/2. As the churche of Christe is but one, so be there of those [heretics] a vengeable maynye.
1542. Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 49 b. He gave a vengeable check to those persones.
1583. Stocker, Civ. Warres Lowe C., IV. 61. A mischeuous mistakyng of a matter … bredde a vengeable suspition in the heddes of many.
1601. Deacon & Walker, Spirits & Divels, To Rdr. 13. [They] will couertly flutter their wings, and keepe a vengeable coyle in Conuenticles and corners.
b. As adv. = VENGEABLY adv. 2.
1542. Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 7. Socrates asked wherfore he was so vengeable eagre.
1566. Pasquine in Traunce, 48. A vengeable long leape, or a vengeable lowde lye.
1866. Gregor, Banffsh. Gloss., 232. He’s vengeable greedy; he can hardly be honest.
4. Punishable. rare–1
1650. S. Clarke, Eccl. Hist., I. (1654), 488. [He] delivered him over to the secular power; Declaring that … it was a vengeable matter to eat or drink with him.
