vindicate

Where does the word "vindicate" come from? It comes from Latin vindicare, and was adopted directly into English (1500s).

Vindicate’s story begins in Latin: vindicare meant “to avenge, to claim.” To avenge, to claim, from vim (force) and dicare (to proclaim). It reached English by 1500s as vindicate. Settled as the English word for clearing someone of blame or proving something right. Today, vindicate means to clear someone of blame or suspicion, or to prove a claim to be correct.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient vindicare "to avenge, to claim", to avenge, to claim, from vim (force) and dicare (to proclaim).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1500s vindicate "to clear someone of blame, or to prove something right", settled as the English word for clearing someone of blame or proving something right.