vindicate - 1.to clear, as from an accusation, imputation, suspicion, or the like: to vindicate someone's honor.
2.to afford justification for; justify: Subsequent events vindicated his policy.
3.to uphold or justify by argument or evidence: to vindicate a claim.
4.to assert, maintain, or defend (a right, cause, etc.) against opposition.
7.to get revenge for; avenge.
8.Obsolete. to deliver from; liberate.
9.Obsolete. to punish.
then vindictive means vengeful, but i always had the idea that vindicate was a positive word, and these obsolete definitions are more of a match for 'vindictive' does anyone have info on the origins of these words? and why are the last 2 definitions obsolete?
Answers:
Yes, they have the same root. How clever of you.
Vindictive
1623, "to avenge or revenge," from L. vindicatus, pp. of vindicare (see vindication). Meaning "to clear from censure or doubt, by means of demonstration" is recorded from 1635.
Vindication
1484, "act of avenging, revenge," from L. vindicationem (nom. vindicatio) "act of claiming or avenging," from vindicare "to set free, lay claim to, assert, avenge" (related to vindicta "revenge"), probably from vim dicare "to show authority," from vim, accusative of vis "force" + root of dicere "to say" (see diction). Meaning "justification by proof, defense against censure" is attested from 1647.
okay, what was the question again?
I suggest that your question should have been :What is the difference between vindicate and vindictive?The answer is readily available,if you have access to a comprehensive Thesaurus.Why a Thesaurus and not a Dictionary?Because a Thesaurus gives the idea contained in the word,which defines the difference.
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