DIMENSIONS: EVALUATION / Perspective
R E F E R E N C E S
Justification n. 1. a reason, fact, circumstance, or explanation that justifies or defends. 2. the act or an instance of justifying. 3. the state of being justified. 4. Also called justification by faith. Theol. the act of God whereby man is absolved of guilt for sin. 5. Print. the spacing of words and letters within a line of type to make it meet both margins of a column. . . . .
Just 1. in accordance with or adhering to the principles of justice; fair. 2. rational and informed: a just appraisal. 3. in accordance with correct principles: just proportions. 4. (esp. in Biblical use) righteous. -adv. 5. within a brief preceding time: The sun had just come out. 6. exactly or precisely. 7. by a small amount; barely: You've just missed seeing him. 8. merely: just a tramp. 9. really; positiviely: That's just splendid! [ME < L júst(us) righteous = jús law, right + -tus adj. sufix.] -Syn. 1. upright, equitable, impartial; legal; honorable. 2. accurate; exact. -Ant. 1. biased. 2. untrue.
Justice n. 1. the quality of conforming to principles of reason, to generally accepted standards of right and wrong, and to the stated terms of laws, rules, agreements, etc., in matters affecting persons who could be wronged or unduly favored. 2. rightfulness or lawfulness, as of a claim: to complan with justice. 3. the administering of deserved punishment or reward. 4. the mainteneance or administration of what is just according to law: a court of justice. 5. decisions regarding the treatment of individuals or the disposition of cases, as in a court: to administer justice. 6. a judge or magistrate. 7. bring to justice, to cause to come before a court for trail or to receive punishment for one's misdeeds. 8. do justice, a. to treat justly or fairly. b. to appreciate properly. [ME < OF < L jústitia. See Just1, -ICE]
Justify -v.t. 1. to show [an act, claim, statement, etc.] to be just, right, or warranted: Does the end justify the means? 2. to defend or uphold as blameless, just, or right. 3. to absolve of guilt; acquit. 4. Print. to make [a line of type] a desired length by spacing it, esp. so that full lines have seven margins. -v.i. 5. Law, a. to show a satisfactory reason or excuse for something done. b. to qualify as bail or surety. 6. Print. [of a line of type] to fit exactly into a desired length. [ME justifi(en) < OF justifie(r) < L justifficáre = justi- (comb. form of justus JUST1] + ficáre -FY] -Syn. 2. vindicate; exonerate; excuse. -Ant. 2. accuse, condemn, blame.
[Urdang, Laurence, ed. Random House Dictionary of The English Language. New York: Random House, 1968.]
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