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justify

jus·ti·fy [ jústi f ] (past and past participle jus·ti·fied, present participle jus·ti·fy·ing, 3rd person present singular jus·ti·fies)


transitive verb 
Definition:
 
1. make something seem reasonable: to serve as an acceptable reason or excuse for something ( often passive )

2. give somebody reason: to give somebody an acceptable reason for taking a particular action ( often passive )

3. explain something: to give a reason or explanation why something was done

4. printing print text with margins aligned: to adjust the lengths of spaces between and within words in text in order to make both the left and right margins align

5. christianity free somebody from sin: in Christianity, to free somebody from sinfulness through faith in Jesus Christ or by the grace of Jesus Christ ( refers to God )

6. law give legal reason for something: to provide a good reason in law for something, especially for committing the offense that is the subject of a criminal charge

[14th century. Via French justifier< late Latin justificare "act justly, justify" < Latin justus (see just)]
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