Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Justify

Jus′ti-fy

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Justified
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Justifying
.]
[F.
justifier
, L.
justificare
;
justus
just +
-ficare
(in comp.) to make. See
Just
,
Adj.
, and
-fy
.]
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
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.
[L. justus, just,and facio, to make.]
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.
In printing, to agree; to suit; to conform exactly; to form an even surface or true line with something else. Types of different sizes will not justify with each other.

Definition 2024


justify

justify

English

Alternative forms

Verb

justify (third-person singular simple present justifies, present participle justifying, simple past and past participle justified)

  1. (transitive) To provide an acceptable explanation for.
    How can you justify spending so much money on clothes?
    Paying too much for car insurance is not justified.
  2. (transitive) To be a good, acceptable reason for; warrant.
    Nothing can justify your rude behaviour last night.
    • E. Everett
      Unless the oppression is so extreme as to justify revolution, it would not justify the evil of breaking up a government.
  3. (transitive) To arrange (text) on a page or a computer screen such that the left and right ends of all lines within paragraphs are aligned.
    The text will look better justified.
  4. (transitive) To absolve, and declare to be free of blame or sin.
    • Shakespeare
      I cannot justify whom the law condemns.
    • Bible, Acts xiii. 39
      By him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
  5. To prove; to ratify; to confirm.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Shakespeare to this entry?)
  6. (law) To show (a person) to have had a sufficient legal reason for an act that has been made the subject of a charge or accusation.
  7. (law) To qualify (oneself) as a surety by taking oath to the ownership of sufficient property.
    • Bouvier's Law Dictionary
      The production of bail in court, who there justify themselves against the exception of the plaintiff.

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