What does vindicate mean?

Vindicate

vin′di-kāt, v.t. to lay claim to: to defend: to maintain by force.—n. Vindicabil′ity.—adj. Vin′dicable, that may be vindicated or defended.—n. Vindicā′tion, act of vindicating: defence: justification: support.—adj. Vin′dicātive, vindicating: tending to vindicate: (Shak.) revengeful, vindictive.—ns. Vin′dicātiveness, vindictiveness; Vin′dicātor, one who vindicates:—fem. Vin′dicātress.—adjs. Vin′dicātory, tending to vindicate: inflicting punishment; Vindic′tive, revengeful.—adv. Vindic′tively.—n. Vindic′tiveness. [L. vindicāre, -ātum—vis, vim, power, dicāre, to proclaim, dic?re, to say; others trace to the root of venia, favour.]