Justifying

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  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}.]
     [1913 Webster]
     1. To prove or show to be just; to vindicate; to maintain or


        defend as conformable to law, right, justice, propriety,
        or duty.
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              That to the height of this great argument
              I may assert eternal providence,
              And justify the ways of God to men.   --Milton.
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              Unless the oppression is so extreme as to justify
              revolution, it would not justify the evil of
              breaking up a government.             --E. Everett.
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     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.
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              I can not justify whom the law condemns. --Shak.
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     3. (Theol.) To treat as if righteous and just; to pardon; to
        exculpate; to absolve.
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              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.
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     4. To prove; to ratify; to confirm. [Obs.] --Shak.
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     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.
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     6. (Law)
        (a) 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.
        (b) To qualify (one's self) as a surety by taking oath to
            the ownership of sufficient property.
            [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
  
                  The production of bail in court, who there
                  justify themselves against the exception of the
                  plaintiff.                        --Bouvier's
                                                    Law Dict.
            [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
  
     Syn: To defend; maintain; vindicate; excuse; exculpate;
          absolve; exonerate.
          [1913 Webster]