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

.

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.]

vindicate

English

Verb

vindicate ‎(third-person singular simple present vindicates, present participle vindicating, simple past and past participle vindicated)

To clear from an accusation, suspicion or criticism.
to vindicate someone's honor
To justify by providing evidence.
to vindicate a right, claim or title
- 2012 June 19, Phil McNulty, “England 1-0 Ukraine”, in BBC Sport:
  The Ukrainians immediately demanded a goal and their claims were vindicated as replays showed the ball crossed the line before Terry's intervention.
To maintain or defend a cause against opposition.
to vindicate the rights of labor movement in developing countries
To provide justification for.
The violent history of the suspect vindicated the use of force by the police.
To lay claim to; to assert a right to; to claim.
(obsolete) To liberate; to set free; to deliver.
(obsolete) To avenge; to punish
A war to vindicate infidelity.