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.
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.
Vin"di*ca*tive (?; 277), a. [Cf. F. vindicatif. Cf. Vindictive.] 1.
Tending to vindicate; vindicating; as, a vindicative policy.