Word Origin & History
vindication1484, "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.