victim
noun
- person who suffers as a result of a crime or other event
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈvɪktɪm/ / /ˈvɪktəm/
noun
Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *weyk-der. Latin victima Middle French victimebor. English victim From Middle French victime, from Latin victima (“sacrificial animal”). Although this root and victor drive from homophonous PIE roots, they are traditionally reconstructed as separate words and thus not cognates.
- One that is harmed—killed, injured, subjected to oppression, deceit, or otherwise adversely affected—by someone or something, especially another person or event, force, or condition; in particular
“The victim of the robbery gave a detailed statement.”
“crime victim”
- One that is harmed—killed, injured, subjected to oppression, deceit, or otherwise adversely affected—by someone or something, especially another person or event, force, or condition; in particular:
“victims of assault; the murderer's victims”
“became another victim of the latest scam”
- One that is harmed—killed, injured, subjected to oppression, deceit, or otherwise adversely affected—by someone or something, especially another person or event, force, or condition; in particular:
“a fundraiser for victims of AIDS; a victim of a car crash”
““I don't mean all of your friends—only a small proportion—which, however, connects your circle with that deadly, idle, brainless bunch—the insolent chatterers at the opera,[…]the speed-mad fugitives from the furies of ennui, the neurotic victims of mental cirrhosis, […] !””
- One that is harmed—killed, injured, subjected to oppression, deceit, or otherwise adversely affected—by someone or something, especially another person or event, force, or condition; in particular:
“a victim of his own pride; a victim of her own incompetence”
“the newcomer never managed to make friends, a victim of the town's deep distrust of outsiders”
- One that is harmed—killed, injured, subjected to oppression, deceit, or otherwise adversely affected—by someone or something, especially another person or event, force, or condition; in particular:
“relief efforts to help victims of the hurricane”
“victim of an optical illusion; victim of a string of bad luck”
- A living being which is slain and offered as a sacrifice, usually in a religious rite.
- A living being which is slain and offered as a sacrifice, usually in a religious rite.
verb
Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *weyk-der. Latin victima Middle French victimebor. English victim From Middle French victime, from Latin victima (“sacrificial animal”). Although this root and victor drive from homophonous PIE roots, they are traditionally reconstructed as separate words and thus not cognates.
- To make (something) a victim (especially of a ritual sacrifice); to victimize.