vindictive, a. and n.
(vɪnˈdɪktɪv)
[f. L. vindicta vengeance, revenge + -ive.]
A. adj.
1. Of persons: Given to revenge; having a revengeful disposition. (Cf. vindicative a. 1.)
| 1616 Bullokar Eng. Expos., Vindictiue, reuengefull, or apt to reuenge. 1770 Langhorne Plutarch (1851) II. 904/1 He was vindictive in his nature. 1787 Burke Corr. (1844) III. 52 You have vindictive people to deal with, and you have gone too far to be forgiven. 1808 Jebb in A. Knox & Jebb Corr. (1834) I. 455 There exists in human nature..a perturbed dread of some superior, powerful and most vindictive being. 1847 Mrs. A. Kerr tr. Ranke's Hist. Servia 206 He was not vindictive: when he had once pardoned an offender, he never recurred again to the offence. 1875 W. S. Hayward Love agst. World 18 He is as vindictive as a demon. |
b. Of actions, qualities, etc.: Characterized by a desire for, or the exercise of, revenge.
| 1627 J. Carter Plain Expos. 46 To forbeare irefull and vindictive courses, to say or doe nothing at all in anger, or hot bloud. 1629 J. Maxwell tr. Herodian (1635) 430 Nor let any of you imagine that any vindictive resolution is harboured against you, either by us or the Romans. 1743 Francis tr. Horace, Odes ii. viii. 8 When..you engage To meet high Heaven's vindictive Rage. 1791 Cowper Iliad iii. 450 Then with vindictive strides he rush'd again On Paris. 1807–8 W. Irving Salmag. (1824) 305 This spirit of vindictive cowardice is not owing to any inherent depravity of soul. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. i. I. 80 After the fashion of oppressed sects, they mistook their own vindictive feelings for emotions of piety. 1863 Geo. Eliot Romola ii. xxx, With the first movement of vindictive rage awoke a vague caution. |
2. Involving retribution or punishment; punitive, retributive; avenging. Now rare. a. As an epithet of justice. (Cf. vindicative a. 2 b.)
| 1623 R. Carpenter Consc. Chr. 100 They are euer awaked with the remembrance of Gods presence, in all your actions and censures of vindictive or remuneratiue Iustice. 1660 Jer. Taylor Ductor ii. ii. rule 7 §5 For in all penal laws and inflictions, although there be much of Vindictive justice, yet this justice is but a handmaid to Government and Correction. a 1711 Ken Div. Love Wks. (1838) 313 Our sins,..which are the vast debts we owe to thy vindictive justice. 1742 Ld. Cholmondeley in Johnson's Deb. (1787) II. 150 It has been unanswerably shewn..that vindictive justice is of the highest importance to the happiness of the public. 1824 Southey Colloq. Soc. (1887) 103 The shallow moralists who exclaim against vindictive justice, when punishment would cease to be just, if it were not vindictive. |
b. In other contexts.
| 1656 Bramhall Replic. i. 11 The judgements of God in this life are more exemplary for the amendment of others, than vindictive to the delinquents themselves. 1695 Blackmore Pr. Arth. ii. 436 Th' Almighty his Vindictive Arm makes bare. 1718 Pope Iliad xvi. 654 First to the fight his native troops he warms, Then loudly calls on Troy's vindictive arms. 1780 Cowper Progr. Error 44 Pleasure brings as surely in her train, Remorse, and Sorrow, and vindictive Pain. 1827 Pollok Course T. ii, He..Amidst vindictive thunders lets them try The stoutness of their heart. 1875 Poste Gaius i. Introd., Sometimes the sanction is retributive or vindictive, the expression of the conscience or moral sentiments of the Society. |
c. Of deities: Inflicting punishment for wrong-doing.
| 1703 Rowe Ulysses iii. i, Vindictive Jove prepares his Thunder. Let the Wrong-doer and the Tyrant tremble. 1781 Cowper Expost. 407 The fast that wins deliv'rance, and suspends The stroke that a vindictive God intends, Is to renounce hypocrisy. |
3. vindictive damages, damages awarded not only as compensation to the plaintiff but also as a punishment to the defendant.
| 1813 Ann. Reg., Chron. 67 It seemed established that there was no gross misconduct..on the part of the coachman, to call for vindictive damages. |
† B. n. An act of punishment. Obs.—1
| 1726 De Foe Hist. Devil i. i. 12 Who..could give a full..account of the deluge, whether it was a meer vindictive, a blast from heaven? |