JUSTIFY

justify

(verb) adjust the spaces between words; “justify the margins”

justify, vindicate

(verb) show to be right by providing justification or proof; “vindicate a claim”

justify

(verb) (used of God) declare innocent; absolve from the penalty of sin

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Verb

justify (third-person singular simple present justifies, present participle justifying, simple past and past participle justified)

(transitive) To provide an acceptable explanation for.

(transitive) To be a good, acceptable reason for; warrant.

(transitive) To arrange (text) on a page or a computer screen such that the left and right ends of all lines within paragraphs are aligned.

(transitive) To absolve, and declare to be free of blame or sin.

(reflexive) To give reasons for one’s actions; to make an argument to prove that one is in the right.

To prove; to ratify; to confirm.

(legal) 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.

(legal) To qualify (oneself) as a surety by taking oath to the ownership of sufficient property.

Source: Wiktionary

Jus"ti*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Justified; p. pr. & vb. n. Justifying.] Etym: [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.)

Definition: 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.)

Definition: 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.

Jus"ti*fy, v. i.

1. (Print.)

Definition: To form an even surface or true line with something else; to fit exactly.

2. (Law)

Definition: To take oath to the ownership of property sufficient to qualify one's self as bail or surety.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition