English Dictionary: justified | by the DICT Development Group |
2 results for justified | |
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
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From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
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. |