different between vindicative vs vindicatory

English

Etymology

From Middle French vindicatif, from Medieval Latin vindicativus

Adjective

vindicative (comparative more vindicative, superlative most vindicative)

1. Vindicating, having a tendency to vindicate.
   • 1964, Christian Freiherr von Wolff, Jus Gentium Methodo Scientifica Pertractatum, issue 13, volume 2:

     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.
   • 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

• vindicate
• vindicativeness

French

Adjective

vindicative

1. feminine singular of vindicatif

English

Etymology

vindicate +? -ory

Adjective

vindicatory (comparative more vindicatory, superlative most vindicatory)

1. Promoting or producing vindication.
   • 1995, Douglas Vickers, The Tyranny of the Market, ?ISBN, p. 77:

     The principal vindicatory feature of the market system . . . rests in the fact that it permits and facilitates an intermarket and intersectoral flow of economic values.

2. Promoting or producing retribution or punishment.
   • 1800, The Annual Register (1797), J. Dodsley (London), vol. 39, p. 486:

     To prevent the strong from oppressing the weak; to protect the acquisitions of industry . . . are duties which require that delegated authority should be exerted by public force and the vindicatory dispensations of pains and penalties.

Synonyms

• (promoting or producing vindication): defensive, justificatory
• (promoting or producing retribution or punishment): punitive, retributive

Derived terms

• vindicatorily

References

• Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., 1989.