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Webster 1913 Edition

Vindicate

Vin′di-cate

,
Verb.
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
.

Webster 1828 Edition

Vindicate

VIN'DICATE

,
Verb.
T.
[L. vindico.]
1.
To defend; to justify; to support or maintain as true or correct, against denial, censure or objections.
When the respondent denies any proposition, the opponent must vindicate it.
Laugh where we must, be candid where we can; but vindicate the ways of God to man.
2.
To assert; to defend with success; to maintain; to prove to be just or valid; as, to vindicate a claim or title.
3.
To defend with arms, or otherwise; as, to vindicate our rights.
4.
to avenge; to punish; as a war to vindicate or punish infidelity.
God is more powerful to exact subjection and to vindicate rebellion.
[This latter use is entirely obsolete.]

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