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justify - 7 dictionary results
jus⋅ti⋅fy
[juhs-tuh-fahy]
verb, -fied, -fy⋅ing.–verb (used with object)
| 1. | to show (an act, claim, statement, etc.) to be just or right: The end does not always justify the means. |
| 2. | to defend or uphold as warranted or well-grounded: Don't try to justify his rudeness. |
| 3. | Theology. to declare innocent or guiltless; absolve; acquit. |
| 4. | Printing.
|
–verb (used without object)
| 5. | Law.
|
| 6. | Printing. (of a line of type) to fit exactly into a desired length. |
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To justify
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Justify
Jus"ti*fy\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Justified; p. pr. & vb. n. Justifying.] [F. justifier, L. justificare; justus just + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See Just, a., 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. --Shak. 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 adjust, as type. See Justification, 4. Syn: To defend; maintain; vindicate; excuse; exculpate; absolve; exonerate.Justify
Jus"ti*fy\, v. 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.Justify
Jus"ti*fy\, v. t. (Law) (a) To show (a person) to have had a sufficient legal reason for an act that has been made the subject of a change or accusation. (b) To qualify (one's self) as a surely by taking oath to the ownership of sufficient property. The production of bail in court, who there justify themselves against the exception of the plaintiff. --Bouvier's Law Dict.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : justify
Spanish:
justificar,
German:
rechtfertigen,
Japanese:
正当化する
justify
c.1300, "to administer justice," also "to show (something) to be just or right," from O.Fr. justifer, from L. justificare "act justly toward, make just," from justificus "dealing justly, righteous," from justus "just" (see just (adj.)) + root of facere "to do" (see factitious). Meaning "to make exact" (now largely restricted to typesetting) is from 1551.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Main Entry: jus·ti·fy
Pronunciation: 'j&s-t&-"fI
Function: verb
Inflected Forms: -fied; -fy·ing
transitive verb 1 : to prove or show to be just, right, or reasonable
2 : to show to have had a legally sufficient reason or cause justify or excuse himself —State v. Doss, 568 Pacific Reporter, Second Series 1054 (1977)> intransitive verb 1 : to show a legally sufficient reason for an act
2 : to swear an oath as to the ownership of sufficient property
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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təˌfaɪ