4  definitions  found 
 
  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. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Justify  \Jus"ti*fy\,  v.  i. 
  1.  (Print.)  To  form  an  even  surface  or  true  line  with 
  something  else;  to  fit  exactly. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Justify  \Jus"ti*fy\,  v.  t.  (Law) 
  a  To  show  (a  person)  to  have  had  a  sufficient  legal  reason 
  for  an  act  that  has  been  made  the  subject  of  a  change  or 
  accusation. 
  b  To  qualify  (one's  self)  as  a  surely  by  taking  oath  to  the 
  ownership  of  sufficient  property. 
 
  The  production  of  bail  in  court,  who  there  justify 
  themselves  against  the  exception  of  the  plaintiff. 
  --Bouvier's 
  Law  Dict. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  justify 
  v  1:  show  to  be  reasonable  [syn:  {warrant}] 
  2:  show  to  be  right  [syn:  {vindicate}] 
  3:  make  excuses  for  [syn:  {apologize},  {apologise},  {excuse},  {rationalize}] 
  4:  let  off  the  hook  [syn:  {absolve},  {free}]  [ant:  {blame}] 
  5:  adjust  the  spaces  between  words  in  printing;  "justify  the 
  margins" 

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