Vindicated

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Vindicate \Vin"di*cate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Vindicated}; p.
     pr. & vb. n. {Vindicating}.] [L. vindicatus, p. p. of
     vindicare to lay claim to, defend, avenge. See {Vengeance}.]
     1. To lay claim to; to assert a right to; to claim. [R.]
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              Is thine alone the seed that strews the plain?
              The birds of heaven shall vindicate their grain.
                                                    --Pope.
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     2. To maintain or defend with success; to prove to be valid;
        to assert convincingly; to sustain against assault; as, to
        vindicate a right, claim, or title.
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     3. To support or maintain as true or correct, against denial,
        censure, or objections; to defend; to justify.
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              When the respondent denies any proposition, the
              opponent must directly vindicate . . . that
              proposition.                          --I. Watts.
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              Laugh where we must, be candid where we can,
              But vindicate the ways of God to man. --Pope.
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     4. To maintain, as a law or a cause, by overthrowing enemies.
        --Milton.
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     5. To liberate; to set free; to deliver. [Obs.]
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              I am confident he deserves much more
              That vindicates his country from a tyrant
              Than he that saves a citizen.         --Massinger.
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     6. To avenge; to punish; as, a war to vindicate or punish
        infidelity. [Obs.] --Bacon.
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              God is more powerful to exact subjection and to
              vindicate rebellion.                  --Bp. Pearson.
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     Syn: To assert; maintain; claim. See {Assert}.
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From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  vindicated
       adj : freed from any question of guilt; "is absolved from all
             blame"; "was now clear of the charge of cowardice";
             "his official honor is vindicated" [syn: {absolved}, {clear},
              {cleared}, {exculpated}, {exonerated}]