different between vindicativeness vs vindicative

English

Etymology

vindicative +? -ness

Noun

vindicativeness (uncountable)

1. The quality of being vindicative.

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