vindictive damages

Vindictive \Vin*dic"tive\, a. [For vindicative, confused with L.
   vindicta revenge, punishment, fr. vindicare to vindicate. Cf.
   {Vindicative}.]
   1. Disposed to revenge; prompted or characterized by revenge;
      revengeful.
      [1913 Webster]

            I am vindictive enough to repel force by force.
                                                  --Dryden.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Punitive. [Obs.]
      [1913 Webster]

   {Vindictive damages}. (Law) See under {Damage}, n.
      [1913 Webster] -- {Vin*dic"tive*ly}, adv. --
      {Vin*dic"tive*ness}, n.
      [1913 Webster]
    

Damage \Dam"age\ (d[a^]m"[asl]j; 48), n. [OF. damage, domage, F.
   dommage, fr. assumed LL. damnaticum, from L. damnum damage.
   See {Damn}.]
   1. Injury or harm to person, property, or reputation; an
      inflicted loss of value; detriment; hurt; mischief.
      [1913 Webster]

            He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool
            cutteth off the feet and drinketh damage. --Prov.
                                                  xxvi. 6.
      [1913 Webster]

            Great errors and absurdities many commit for want of
            a friend to tell them of them, to the great damage
            both of their fame and fortune.       --Bacon.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. pl. (Law) The estimated reparation in money for detriment
      or injury sustained; a compensation, recompense, or
      satisfaction to one party, for a wrong or injury actually
      done to him by another.
      [1913 Webster]

   Note: In common-law actions, the jury are the proper judges
         of damages.
         [1913 Webster]

   {Consequential damage}. See under {Consequential}.

   {Exemplary damages} (Law), damages imposed by way of example
      to others. Similar in purpose to {vindictive damages},
      below.

   {Nominal damages} (Law), those given for a violation of a
      right where no actual loss has accrued.

   {vindictive damages} or {punitive damages}, those given
      specially for the punishment of the wrongdoer.

   Syn: Mischief; injury; harm; hurt; detriment; evil; ill. See
        {Mischief}.
        [1913 Webster]