Category:Vindicate

Vin"di*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Vindicated; p. pr. & vb. n. Vindicating.] Etym: [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.