He . . . came up to the English admiral and gave him a
broadside, with which he killed many of his men and
damaged the ship. --Clarendon.
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.
Note: In common-law action, 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}.