Meaning

verb show to be right by providing justification or proof

verb maintain, uphold, or defend

verb clear of accusation, blame, suspicion, or doubt with supporting proof

originBorrowed from Latin vindicātus, perfect passive participle of vindicō (“lay legal claim to something; set free; protect, avenge, punish”), from vim, accusative singular of vīs (“force, power”), + dīcō (“say; declare, state”). See avenge.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0