justify English · revision 7360

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1300|origins=la iustus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈd͡ʒʌstɪfaɪ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English justifien, [[bor|fro|justifier|t=to submit to court proceedings]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from Christian Latin [[m|la-lat|iustifico|alt=iūstificāre|t=to do justice to, vindicate; make just]], from [[m|la|iustus|t=just]] (see [[just]]) and facere, to make.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To administer justice: about 1300 in Etymonline, before 1300 in the OED;^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) to govern or have charge, about 1378 in Barnhart.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ To execute justice on, condemn, is from 1340 and obsolete.^(OED 1989) To show a person or action to be just or right is from the 14th century, in the Wycliffe Bible before 1382,^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) and in theology, to absolve or declare free from the penalty of sin, from 1382.^(OED 1989) To declare blameless is from the 1520s.^(Etymonline) Of circumstances, to afford justification, is from the 1630s (1635).^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) To make exact, now chiefly of adjusting type so that lines are even, is from the 1550s.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1300 – to administer justice.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1382 – to show to be right; to absolve.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1520s – to declare blameless.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1550s – to make exact.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1635 – of circumstances.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To show or prove to be right or reasonable.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To be a good reason for: ''nothing justifies violence''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(theology)'' To declare free from the guilt of sin.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(printing)'' To adjust lines of text so that the margins are straight.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[justifier]]

+ * [[justifyingly]]

+ * [[rejustify]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[-fy]]

+ * [[just]]

+ * [[justification]]

+ * [[justifiable]]

+ * [[unjustified]]

+ * [[justice]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}