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   justify

   /ˈdʒʌstɪfʌɪ/

   verb

   • 1. show or prove to be right or reasonable: "the person appointed has fully justified our confidence" Similar give grounds forgive reasons forgive a justification forshow just cause forexplaingive an explanation foraccount forshow/prove to be reasonableprovide a rationale forrationalizedefendanswer forvindicatesubstantiateupholdsustainestablishlegitimizelegitimatize
   • ▪ be a good reason for: "the situation was grave enough to justify further investigation" Similar warrantbe good reason forbe a justification forbear outconfirmvalidate
   • 2. declare or make righteous in the sight of God: "one of the elect, justified by faith"
   • 3. adjust (a line of type or piece of text) so that the print fills a space evenly or forms a straight edge at the margin: "in most European languages you justify text by adding space between letters and words"

   Word Origin Middle English (in the senses ‘administer justice to’ and ‘inflict a judicial penalty on’): from Old French justifier, from Christian Latin justificare ‘do justice to’, from Latin justus (see just).

   Derivatives

   • 1. justifier noun

   Scrabble Points: 20

   • J

     8

   • U

     1

   • S

     1

   • T

     1

   • I

     1

   • F

     4

   • Y

     4

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