Contents -AUTHOR INDEX -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

Mawson, C.O.S., ed. (1870–1938). Roget’s International Thesaurus. 1922.

Class VI. Words Relating to the Sentient and Moral Powers
Section IV. Moral Affections
2. Moral Sentiments

937. Vindication.

   NOUN:VINDICATION, justification, warrant; exoneration, exculpation, disculpation; acquittal [See Acquittal]; whitewashing.
  EXTENUATION, palliation, palliative, softening, mitigation.
  PLEA [See Plea]; apology, gloss, varnish; salvo [rare], excuse, extenuating circumstances; allowance, – to be made; locus pænitentiæ [L.]; reply, defense or defence; recrimination [See Accusation].
  APOLOGIST, vindicator, justifier; defendant [See Accusation].
  TRUE BILL, justifiable charge.
   VERB:JUSTIFY, warrant; be an excuse for &c. n.; lend a color, furnish a handle; vindicate, exculpate, disculpate [rare]; acquit [See Acquittal]; clear, set right, exonerate, whitewash; clear the skirts of.
  EXTENUATE, palliate, excuse, soften, apologize, varnish, slur, gloze; put a -gloss, – good face- upon; mince; gloss over, bolster up, help a lame dog over a stile.
  ADVOCATE, defend, plead one’s cause; stand up for, stick up for [colloq.], speak up for; contend for, speak for; bear out, keep in countenance, support; plead [See Plea]; say in defense; plead ignorance; confess and avoid, propugn [obs.], put in a good word for.
  take the will for the deed, make allowance for, do justice to; give one his due, give the Devil his due.
  make good; prove the truth of, prove one’s case; be justified by the event.
   ADJECTIVE:VINDICATIVE, vindicatory, vindicated, vindicating &c. v.; palliative; exculpatory, disculpatory, apologetic.
  EXCUSABLE, defensible, pardonable; venial, veniable [obs.]; specious, plausible, justifiable.
   QUOTATIONS:

1. Honi soit qui mal y pense.
2. Good wine needs no bush.—As You Like It
3. The lady doth protest too much, methinks.—Hamlet
4. Apologies only account for that which they do not alter.—Disraeli