Origin: 1525–35; < Latinvindicātus (past participle of vindicāre to lay legal claim to (property), to free (someone) from servitude (by claiming him as free), to protect, avenge, punish), equivalent to vindic- (stem of vindex claimant, protector, avenger) + -ātus-ate1
Related forms
vin·di·ca·tor, noun
re·vin·di·cate, verb (used with object), re·vin·di·cat·ed, re·vin·di·cat·ing.
1620s, "to avenge or revenge," from L. vindicatus, pp. of vindicare (see vindication). Meaning "to clear from censure or doubt, by means of demonstration" is recorded from 1630s. Related: Vindicated, vindicating.