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victim

vic·tim [ víktim ] (plural vic·tims)


noun 
Definition:
 
1. somebody hurt or killed: somebody who is hurt or killed by somebody or something, especially in a crime, accident, or disaster
a murder victim

2. somebody or something harmed: somebody who or something that is adversely affected by an action or circumstance
a victim of her own success

3. somebody duped: somebody who is tricked or exploited

4. living being used for sacrifice: a live human or animal used as a sacrifice or in a religious rite

5. helpless person: somebody who experiences misfortune and feels helpless to remedy it

[15th century. < Latin victima "animal offered as a sacrifice"]

vic·tim·hood noun

fall victim to somebody or something to be affected, harmed, or deceived by somebody or something

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