justify
verb (justify, justifies, justified, justifying)
Everyday
- To give a good reason for something; to show that it is right or fair. tree →
- To be a good reason for something, as in «Nothing justifies hitting». tree →
- (computing) To line up text so both edges are straight. tree →
In the lessons
In maths and science exams: «Justify your answer» means explain your reasoning with facts, numbers or working. In debates and stories: characters justify their actions. Phrases: justify your answer, the ends justify the means.
Examples
- Justify your answer with a calculation. tree →
- How can you justify spending all your money on sweets? tree →
- Nothing can justify bullying. tree →
- She justified her choice by showing the data. tree →
- Can you justify why 0.5 is bigger than 0.25? tree →
- Justify the text in your report. tree →
- The little boy made no further attempt to justify his conduct. tree →
Note
Spelling: justify → justifies, justified. Noun: justification. In maths, justifying means showing why, not just repeating the answer.
In Jewish tradition
In the Torah it means to declare the innocent person in the right, as a court does, not to make excuses. In Job and Isaiah it is used the same way: Job refuses to declare his friends right, and Isaiah condemns judges who acquit the wicked for a bribe.
Interpretation. Tradition teaches that a court must acquit the innocent and condemn the guilty. God Himself will not declare the guilty innocent, and judges who take bribes are sharply rebuked.
Examples
- Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not; for I will not justify the wicked. (Torah EXO.23.7, JPS 1917) tree →
- If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, and the judges judge them, by justifying the righteous, and condemning the wicked, (Torah DEU.25.1, JPS 1917) tree →
- If thou hast any thing to say, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify thee. (Writings JOB.33.32, JPS 1917) tree →
- That justify the wicked for a reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him! (Prophets ISA.5.23, JPS 1917) tree →
- Far be it from me that I should justify you; till I die I will not put away mine integrity from me. (Writings JOB.27.5, JPS 1917) tree →
Note
Spelling: justify → justifies, justified. Noun: justification. In maths, justifying means showing why, not just repeating the answer.
On Mova
- Trees and pragmatics of «justify» in the school dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- «justify» in the school dictionary on Mova free.
- Trees and pragmatics of «justify» in the Judaism dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- «justify» in the Judaism dictionary on Mova free.
This page in Markdown → https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/justify/