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justify

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jus⋅ti⋅fy

  [juhs-tuh-fahy] verb, -fied, -fy⋅ing.
Use justify in a Sentence
–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.
a. to make (a line of type) a desired length by spacing the words and letters, esp. so that full lines in a column have even margins both on the left and on the right.
b. to level and square (a strike).
–verb (used without object)
5. Law.
a. to show a satisfactory reason or excuse for something done.
b. to qualify as bail or surety.
6. Printing. (of a line of type) to fit exactly into a desired length.
Origin:
1250–1300; ME justifien < OF justifier < LL jūstificāre, equiv. to L jūsti- (comb. form of jūstus just 1 ) + -ficāre -fy

Related forms:
jus⋅ti⋅fi⋅er, noun
jus⋅ti⋅fy⋅ing⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
1. vindicate; validate. 2. excuse.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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jus·ti·fy   (jŭs'tə-fī')   
v.   jus·ti·fied, jus·ti·fy·ing, jus·ti·fies

v.   tr.

  1. To demonstrate or prove to be just, right, or valid: justified each budgetary expense as necessary; anger that is justified by the circumstances.

  2. To declare free of blame; absolve.

  3. To free (a human) of the guilt and penalty attached to grievous sin. Used of God.

  4. Law

    1. To demonstrate sufficient legal reason for (an action taken).

    2. To prove to be qualified as a bondsman.

  5. Printing To adjust the spacing within (lines in a document, for example), so that the lines end evenly at a straight margin.

v.   intr. Printing
To be adjusted in spacing so as to end evenly at the margin.

[Middle English justifien, from Old French justifier, from Late Latin iūstificāre, from Latin, to act justly toward : iūstus, just; see just1 + -ficāre, -fy.]
Synonyms: These verbs mean to be a proper or sufficient reason for: an outburst justified by extreme provocation; drastic measures not warranted by the circumstances.
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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Word Origin & History

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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Legal Dictionary

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 justify a denial of bail>
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 justify in an amount no less than $200 —Oregon Revised Statutes>; also : to qualify as a surety by swearing such an oath justify as bail —State v. Blaisdell, 253 Atlantic Reporter, Second Series 341 (1969)>
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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