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Today it means

justify

to show or prove that something is right, reasonable, or justified

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Where does the word "justify" come from? It comes from Latin justus, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).

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Where does the word "justify" come from? It comes from Latin justus, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).

Justify’s story begins in Latin: justus meant “just, lawful.” Just, right, lawful, combined with facere (to make). It reached English by 1300s as justify. Settled as the English word for showing something to be right or reasonable. Today, justify means to show or prove that something is right, reasonable, or justified.

  1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient justus "just, lawful", just, right, lawful, combined with facere (to make).
  2. Stage 2 · English · 1300s justify "to show or prove something to be right or reasonable", settled as the English word for showing something to be right or reasonable.

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