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vindicative. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
vindicative, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
vindicative in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
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English
Etymology
From Middle French vindicatif, from Medieval Latin vindicativus.
Adjective
vindicative (comparative more vindicative, superlative most vindicative)
- Vindicating, having a tendency to vindicate.
1964, Christian Freiherr von Wolff, Jus Gentium Methodo Scientifica Pertractatum, volume 2, number 13:page 316: A vindicative war can be defined as one in which we strive to gain that which is our own or which is due to us. […]
page 328: […] since that is a vindicative war in which we strive to gain what is our own, but a punitive war is one in which a penalty is exacted from one against whom the war is brought; […]
- Vindictive, excessively vengeful.
c. 1602, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Troylus and Cressida”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene v]:He in heat of action Is more vindicative than jealous love.
- 1668, Andrew Honyman (Church of Scotland), A Survey of the Insolent and Infamous Libel Naphtali, page 83:
- That albeit the care of Religion toward God, in a vindicative and punishing way, and reforming it, &c. lyeth upon the King or Magistrates mainly, (he should have said onely, for none can produce a commission, but the Powers ordained of God, for using the vindicative, punitive and reforming Sword,
Derived terms
French
Adjective
vindicative
- feminine singular of vindicatif