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vindicative

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

English

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Etymology

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From Middle French vindicatif, from Medieval Latin vindicativus.

Adjective

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vindicative (comparative more vindicative, superlative most vindicative)

  1. 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; []
  2. 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[ward] 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

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French

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Adjective

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vindicative

  1. feminine singular of vindicatif