The Collaborative International Dictionary
Vindicative \Vin"di*ca*tive\ (?; 277), a. [Cf. F. vindicatif. Cf. Vindictive.]
Tending to vindicate; vindicating; as, a vindicative policy.
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Revengeful; vindictive. [Obs.]
Vindicative persons live the life of witches, who, as they are mischievous, so end they infortunate.
--Bacon. [1913 Webster] -- Vin"di*ca*tive*ness, n.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
mid-15c., "vindictive, having vengeful intent," from Old French vindicatif (14c.) or directly from Medieval Latin vindicativus, from vindicat-, past participle stem of vindicare (see vindicate). From c.1600 as "involving retribution or punishment," a sense "common in 17th cent." [OED].
Wiktionary
a. 1 Having a tendency to vindicate. 2 Vindictive or excessively vengeful.
Usage examples of "vindicative".
The possibility that these exiles might stimulate & conduct vindicative or predatory descents on our coasts, & facilitate concert with their brethren remaining here, looks to a state of things between that island & us not probable on a contemplation of our relative strength, and of the disproportion daily growing.