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Navk Posted 12 years ago
Vocabulary
Difference between two words
The words vindictive and vindicate are spelled similarly. However they have different meanings; the former means revenge while the latter means to clear of suspicion Does the prefix play a major role in altering the meaning here?
Top answer
You say prefix, but do you mean suffix? The suffixes suggest that "vindict ive " is likely to be an adjective (not a noun as you imply), and that "vindic ate " is likely to be a verb. Other than that, they provide no clues about meaning.
- You say prefix, but do you mean suffix?
- The suffixes suggest that "vindict ive " is likely to be an adjective (not a noun as you imply), and that "vindic ate " is likely to be a verb.
- Other than that, they provide no clues about meaning.
- It seems from the dictionary that the words are ultimately from the same Latin root, but have adopted different meanings over time.
- The reason for this is no longer apparent to ordinary modern speakers.
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7 Answers
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You say prefix, but do you mean suffix? The suffixes suggest that "vindictive" is likely to be an adjective (not a noun as you imply), and that "vindicate" is likely to be a verb. Other than that, they provide no clues about meaning.
It seems from the dictionary that the words are ultimately from the same Latin root, but have adopted different meanings over time. The reason
It seems from the dictionary that the words are ultimately from the same Latin root, but have adopted different meanings over time. The reason
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. Thanks for the reply.0
Hello Navk.
Interesting question.
I suspect:
1. That vindictive comes from vindicatio, the Latin for revenge - so it means vengeful.
2. That vindicate comes from vim dicere, the Latin for to speak with force - and has come to mean to justify.
If I'm right, the fact that the first three letters are the same doesn't mean that the
Interesting question.
I suspect:
1. That vindictive comes from vindicatio, the Latin for revenge - so it means vengeful.
2. That vindicate comes from vim dicere, the Latin for to speak with force - and has come to mean to justify.
If I'm right, the fact that the first three letters are the same doesn't mean that the
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Thomas Tompion2. That vindicate comes from vim dicere, the Latin for to speak with force - and has come to mean to justify.Do you have a source for that? This is not what it says in any dictionary that I can find.
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vindicate has almost always some positive connotations, it means that justice has been done, or that false accusations have been proved false. Czech translation could be: prokázat správnost, zprostit obžaloby, ospravedlnit.
Vindictive, on the other hand, is mostly negative, it connotes spite, vengeance or revenge. Czech translation could be: pomstychtivý, mstivý.
Vindictive, on the other hand, is mostly negative, it connotes spite, vengeance or revenge. Czech translation could be: pomstychtivý, mstivý.
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I see the Online etymological dictionary supports my view. This is what it says of vindication:
probably from vim dicare "to show authority," from vim, accusative of vis "force" + root of dicere "to say" (see diction). Meaning
probably from vim dicare "to show authority," from vim, accusative of vis "force" + root of dicere "to say" (see diction). Meaning
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