VICTIM
victim
(noun) an unfortunate person who suffers from some adverse circumstance
victim, dupe
(noun) a person who is tricked or swindled
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
victim (plural victims)
One that is harmed—killed, injured, subjected to oppression, deceived, or otherwise adversely affected—by someone or something, especially another person or event, force, or condition; in particular
One who is harmed or killed by a crime or scam.
One who is harmed or killed by an accident or illness.
One who is harmed or killed as a result of other people's biases, emotions or incompetence, or their own.
One who is harmed or killed as a result of a natural or man-made disaster or impersonal condition.
A living being which is slain and offered as a sacrifice, usually in a religious rite.
(by extension, Christianity) The transfigured body and blood of Christ in the Eucharist.
Usage notes
Many people advise against describing a disabled person as being a victim of the condition that relates to their status as a disabled person and suggest describing a disabled person as having or experiencing that condition instead.
Synonyms
• injured party
Antonyms
• offender
Source: Wiktionary
Vic"tim, n. Etym: [L. victima: cf. F. victime.]
1. A living being sacrificed to some deity, or in the performance of a religious rite; a creature immolated, or made an offering of. Led like a victim, to my death I'll go. Dryden.
2. A person or thing destroyed or sacrificed in the pursuit of an object, or in gratification of a passion; as, a victim to jealousy, lust, or ambition.
3. A person or living creature destroyed by, or suffering grievous injury from, another, from fortune or from accident; as, the victim of a defaulter; the victim of a railroad accident.
4. Hence, one who is duped, or cheated; a dupe; a gull. [Colloq.]
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
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AIR
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