vindicatif

Forms

vindicatif (feminine vindicative, masculine plural vindicatifs, feminine plural vindicatives)^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin vindicō (“to claim at law, to avenge, to punish”), a learned formation with the suffix -atif.^[2][3][4][1] The same Latin verb gave the inherited venger.^[5][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Its first record is the form vindicatis in Eustache Deschamps's Miroir de mariage (1385–1403), of a person who likes to take revenge.^[2] Christine de Pizan writes of vindicatifs who want to avenge every wrong in her life of Charles V (15th century).^[6]

Semantic evolution

The sense “inclined to revenge” has been in use since the start.^[5] From 1485 it was also said of God as punishing faults, whence justice vindicative “justice that punishes crimes” (1652, Guez de Balzac); this sense has died out, replaced by vengeur.^[5][2] From about 1515 it also describes what shows a wish for revenge, such as fureur vindicative (Gringore).^[2][5]

Timeline

• 1385–1403 – Eustache Deschamps uses it of a person who likes to take revenge.^[2]
• 1485 – Said of God as one who punishes faults.^[5]
• c. 1515 – Gringore writes fureur vindicative, of a feeling inspired by revenge.^[2]
• 1530 – The adverb vindicativement is recorded.^[5]
• 1652 – Guez de Balzac uses justice vindicative “punitive justice”.^[2]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Of a person: inclined to revenge, vindictive, bearing a grudge: une voisine vindicative.^[2][7][1]
2. Of a look, tone or act: showing a wish for revenge: un regard vindicatif.^[2][8]
3. (noun) A vindictive person.^[8][6]

Word family

• vindicativement

Related words

• venger
• vindicte
• revendication
• Latin vindicō

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
3. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
4. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c d e f Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
7. ^ Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ a b Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse