Dam″age (dăm″ā̍j; 48), n. [OF. damage, domage, F. dommage, fr. assumed LL. damnaticum, from L. damnum damage. See Damn.] 1. Injury or harm to person, property, or reputation; an inflicted loss of value; detriment; hurt; mischief.
He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet and drinketh damage. Prov. xxvi. 6.
Great errors and absurdities many commit for want of a friend to tell them of them, to the great damage both of their fame and fortune. Bacon.
2. pl.(Law) The estimated reparation in money for detriment or injury sustained; a compensation, recompense, or satisfaction to one party, for a wrong or injury actually done to him by another.
☞ In common-law actions, the jury are the proper judges of damages.
Consequential damage. See under Consequential. — Exemplary damages(Law), damages imposed by way of example to others. — Nominal damages(Law), those given for a violation of a right where no actual loss has accrued. — Vindictive damages, those given specially for the punishment of the wrongdoer.
Syn. — Mischief; injury; harm; hurt; detriment; evil; ill. See Mischief.