Lewis & Short

vindĭcĭae, ārum (in sing. vindĭ-cĭa, ae, XII. Tab. ap. Fest. p. 376 Müll.; cf. Serv. Sulp. ib. and Gell. 20, 10, 8), f. [vindico], a laying claim to a thing before the praetor by both contending parties (hence in plur.); a legal claim made in respect to a thing, whether as one’s own property, or for its restoration to a free condition: vindiciae appellantur res eae, de quibus controversiaSer. Sulpicius (vocabulo) jam singulariter formato vindiciam ait esse, quā de re controversia est, ab eo quod vindicatur, Fest. p. 376 Müll.: vindicia, id est correptio manūs in re atque in loco praesenti apud Praetorem ex duodecim tabulis fiebat, Gell. 20, 10, 8: SI VINDICIAM FALSAM TVLIT REI SIVE LITIS, i. e. has falsely obtained possession of the thing claimed, XII. Tab. ap. Fest. p. 376 Müll.: aut pro praede litis vindiciarum cum satis accepisset, sponsionem faceret, Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 45, § 115: injustis vindiciis ac sacramentis alienos fundos petere, id. Mil. 27, 74: vindicias ab libertate in servitutem dare, to sentence a free person to slavery, Liv. 3, 56, 4; 3, 57, 5; cf. Weissenb. ad Liv. 3, 44, 5; for which: quo (ore) vindiciae nuper ab libertate dictae erant, Liv. 3, 57, 6: praetores secundum populum vindicias dicunt, Cato ap. Fest. l. l.: decrēsse vindicias secundum servitutem, Liv. 3, 47, 5: M. Claudio clienti negotium dedit, ut virginem in servitutem assereret neque cederet secundum libertatem postulantibus vindicias, i. e. to those who demanded her liberation, her liberty, id. 3, 44, 5; cf., of the praetor: lege ab ipso lata vindicias det secundum libertatem, id. 3, 44, 12 Weissenb. ad loc.: cum decemviri Romae sine provocatione fuerunt, tertio illo anno, cum vindicias amisisset ipsa libertas, Cic. Rep. 3, 32, 44.