Word: vindication Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Late Middle English vendicacion, vyndicacion, vyndycacion (“assertion of a claim”), from Old French vindication (“revenge, vengeance”) (modern dialectal French vindication), or from Medieval Latin vendicātio, both from Latin vindicātiō (“avenging; defence, protection, vindication; punishment; etc.”), from vindicō (“to avenge; to take revenge on; to protect from; etc.”) + -tiō (suffix forming nouns from verbs, denoting processes, actions, or results of actions). Vindicō is derived from vindex (“claimant, vindicator; defender, protector”) + -ō (suffix forming regular first-conjugation verbs); and vindex from vim (the accusative singular form of vīs (“force; power, strength; etc.”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *weyh₁- (“to chase, pursue; to persecute; to suppress”)) + dīcere (the present active infinitive of dīcō (“to declare, state; to refer to; to say, talk; etc.”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *deyḱ- (“to point out, show”)). By surface analysis, vindicate + -ion (suffix denoting an action or process, or its result). Pronunciation: /ˌvɪndɪˈkeɪʃn̩/, /ˌvɪndəˈkeɪʃən/ 1. An act of asserting or maintaining; an assertion. Labels: countable Example: [T]he loud "Aye, Aye" of the bulk of the members [of Parliament] supported [John] Eliot in his last vindication of English liberty. 2. An argument, fact, piece of evidence, etc., which vindicates (“clears someone of an accusation or suspicion; justifies a belief or claim by providing evidence or proof”). Labels: countable Example: The Soldiers publiſh'd a vindication, as they call'd it, of their Proceedings and Reſolutions, and directed it to their General; in vvhich they complain'd of a deſign to disband, and nevv model the Army; […] This Apology, or Vindication, being ſign'd by many inferior Officers, the Parliament declared them to be Enemies of the State; and cauſed ſome of them vvho talked loudeſt, to be impriſon'd. Example: The great vindication of evil is, that (constituted as we are) we could not know so much joy, nor manifest so much virtue without it; and certainly, in instances like these, it fetches out, under circumstances of the extremest weakness, the most beautiful strength of the human heart. 3. The action of vindicating; also, the state of being vindicated. Labels: uncountable Example: Among its [Milan's] Natural Curioſities I took particular notice of a Piece of Crystal, that enclos'd a couple of Drops, vvhich look'd like VVater vvhen they vvere ſhaken, tho' perhaps they are nothing but Bubbles of Air. […] The Famous Pere [Jean] Mabillon is novv engag'd in the Vindication of this Tear, vvhich a learned Eccleſiaſtic, in the Neighbourhood of Vendome, vvould have ſuppreſs'd, as a Falſe and ridiculous Relick, […] Example: These are the reasons which I have gathered from philosophy and nature; to which I can add other circumstances in vindication of the account of this learned body who publish this almanack. 4. A feeling of deserved satisfaction that comes from being proven correct. Labels: uncountable Example: When they finally admitted their actions, Anne felt vindication and walked with pride once again. 5. A legal claim for a declaration that one is the owner of a thing or the holder of a right; an action in rem. Labels: Ancient-Rome, countable, historical Example: Coordinate term: condiction Example: [T]here also lies against them the action whereby we claim a thing as ours. Actions in rem are called vindications; while those in which we contend that something ought to be given to or done for us are called condictions. 6. The action of avenging or taking revenge. Labels: countable, obsolete, uncountable Example: [P]ublick Vindication of Injuries is not only lavvful, but neceſſary; […] For, vvithout this there vvould be no living, and Human Society could never ſtand. But as to private Vindication of Injuries, that vvhich vve more eſpecially call Revenge, this I ſhall readily allovv to be utterly unlavvful, […] 7. The action of setting free; deliverance. Labels: countable, obsolete, rare, uncountable Example: [T]he peoples affection binding it ſelfe to their redeemer; beſides a neceſſity to keepe them vnited vnto him by the meanes of ſo abhorred a neighbour, from vvhom their vindication, into liberty, muſt bee maintained by their ovvne conſtancy: […] 8. Punishment, retribution. Labels: countable, obsolete, rare, uncountable Example: [T]hings carried ſo farre on in a vvrong vvay, muſt needs either inſlave themſelves and poſterity for ever, or require a vindication ſo ſharpe and ſmarting, as that the Nation vvould groane under it; […]