Vindicable
(Vin"di*ca*ble) a. Capable of being vindicated. — Vin`di*ca*bil"i*ty n.
Vindicate
(Vin"di*cate) v. t. [imp. & p. p. Vindicated ; p. pr. & vb. n. Vindicating.] [L. vindicatus, p.
p. of vindicare to lay claim to, defend, avenge. See Vengeance.]
1. To lay claim to; to assert a right to; to claim. [R.]
Is thine alone the seed that strews the plain?
The birds of heaven shall vindicate their grain.
Pope. 2. To maintain or defend with success; to prove to be valid; to assert convincingly; to sustain against assault; as,
to vindicate a right, claim, or title.
3. To support or maintain as true or correct, against denial, censure, or objections; to defend; to justify.
When the respondent denies any proposition, the opponent must directly vindicate . . . that proposition.
I. Watts.
Laugh where we must, be candid where we can,
But vindicate the ways of God to man.
Pope. 4. To maintain, as a law or a cause, by overthrowing enemies. Milton.
5. To liberate; to set free; to deliver. [Obs.]
I am confident he deserves much more
That vindicates his country from a tyrant
Than he that saves a
citizen.
Massinger. 6. To avenge; to punish; as, a war to vindicate or punish infidelity. [Obs.] Bacon.
God is more powerful to exact subjection and to vindicate rebellion.
Bp. Pearson. Syn. — To assert; maintain; claim. See Assert.
Vindication
(Vin`di*ca"tion) n. [L. vindicatio a laying claim, defense, vindication. See Vindicate.]
1. The act of vindicating, or the state of being vindicated; defense; justification against denial or censure; as,
the vindication of opinions; his vindication is complete.
Occasion for the vindication of this passage in my book.
Locke. 2. (Civil Law) The claiming a thing as one's own; the asserting of a right or title in, or to, a thing. Burrill.
Vindicative
(Vin"di*ca*tive) a. [Cf. F. vindicatif. Cf. Vindictive.]
1. Tending to vindicate; vindicating; as, a vindicative policy.
2. Revengeful; vindictive. [Obs.]
Vindicative persons live the life of witches, who, as they are mischievous, so end they infortunate.
Bacon. — Vin"di*ca*tive*ness, n.
Vindicator
(Vin"di*ca`tor) n. [LL., an avenger.] One who vindicates; one who justifies or maintains.
Locke.
Vindicatory
(Vin"di*ca*to*ry) a.
1. Tending or serving to vindicate or justify; justificatory; vindicative.
