Vindicate
VIN'DICATE, verb transitive [Latin vindico.]
1. To defend; to justify; to support or maintain as true or correct, against denial, censure or objections.
When the respondent denies any proposition, the opponent must vindicate it.
Laugh where we must, be candid where we can; but vindicate the ways of God to man.
2. To assert; to defend with success; to maintain; to prove to be just or valid; as, to vindicate a claim or title.
3. To defend with arms, or otherwise; as, to vindicate our rights.
4. to avenge; to punish; as a war to vindicate or punish infidelity.
God is more powerful to exact subjection and to vindicate rebellion.
[This latter use is entirely obsolete.]