Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Justify
Jus′ti-fy
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Justified
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Justifying
.] 1.
To prove or show to be just; to vindicate; to maintain or defend as conformable to law, right, justice, propriety, or duty.
That to the height of this great argument
I may assert eternal providence,
And
I may assert eternal providence,
And
justify
the ways of God to men. Milton.
Unless the oppression is so extreme as to
justify
revolution, it would not justify
the evil of breaking up a government. E. Everett.
2.
To pronounce free from guilt or blame; to declare or prove to have done that which is just, right, proper, etc.; to absolve; to exonerate; to clear.
I can not
justify
whom the law condemns. Shakespeare
3.
(Theol.)
To treat as if righteous and just; to pardon; to exculpate; to absolve.
By him all that believe are
justified
from all things, from which ye could not be justified
by the law of Moses. Acts xiii. 39.
4.
To prove; to ratify; to confirm.
[Obs.]
Shak.
5.
(Print.)
To make even or true, as lines of type, by proper spacing; to align (text) at the left (left justify) or right (right justify) margins of a column or page, or at both margins; to adjust, as type. See
Justification
, 4.
Syn. – To defend; maintain; vindicate; excuse; exculpate; absolve; exonerate.
Jus′ti-fy
,Verb.
I.
1.
(Print.)
To form an even surface or true line with something else; to fit exactly.
2.
(Law)
To take oath to the ownership of property sufficient to qualify one’s self as bail or surety.
Webster 1828 Edition
Justify
JUST'IFY
,Verb.
T.
1.
To prove or show to be just, or conformable to law, right, justice, propriety or duty; to defend or maintain; to vindicate as right. We cannot justify disobedience or ingratitude to our Maker. We cannot justify insult or incivility to our fellow men. Intemperance, lewdness, profaneness and dueling are in no case to be justified.2.
In theology, to pardon and clear form guilt; to absolve or acquit from guilt and merited punishment, and to accept as righteous on account of the merits of the Savior, or by the application of Christ's atonement to the offender.3.
To cause another to appear comparatively righteous, or less guilty than one's self. Ezek. 16.4.
To judge rightly of. Wisdom is justified by her children. Matt.11.
5.
To accept as just and treat with favor. James 2.JUST'IFY
,Verb.
I.