a. and sb. [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, trans. 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, trans. 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, trans. 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. sb. 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?
