justifying

Justify \Jus"ti*fy\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Justified}; p. pr. &
   vb. n. {Justifying}.] [F. justifier, L. justificare; justus
   just + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See {Just}, a., and
   {-fy}.]
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   1. To prove or show to be just; to vindicate; to maintain or
      defend as conformable to law, right, justice, propriety,
      or duty.
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            That to the height of this great argument
            I may assert eternal providence,
            And justify the ways of God to men.   --Milton.
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            Unless the oppression is so extreme as to justify
            revolution, it would not justify the evil of
            breaking up a government.             --E. Everett.
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   2. To pronounce free from guilt or blame; to declare or prove
      to have done that which is just, right, proper, etc.; to
      absolve; to exonerate; to clear.
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            I can not justify whom the law condemns. --Shak.
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   3. (Theol.) To treat as if righteous and just; to pardon; to
      exculpate; to absolve.
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            By him all that believe are justified from all
            things, from which ye could not be justified by the
            law of Moses.                         --Acts xiii.
                                                  39.
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   4. To prove; to ratify; to confirm. [Obs.] --Shak.
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   5. (Print.) To make even or true, as lines of type, by proper
      spacing; to align (text) at the left (left justify) or
      right (right justify) margins of a column or page, or at
      both margins; to adjust, as type. See {Justification}, 4.
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   6. (Law)
      (a) To show (a person) to have had a sufficient legal
          reason for an act that has been made the subject of a
          charge or accusation.
      (b) To qualify (one's self) as a surety by taking oath to
          the ownership of sufficient property.
          [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

                The production of bail in court, who there
                justify themselves against the exception of the
                plaintiff.                        --Bouvier's
                                                  Law Dict.
          [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

   Syn: To defend; maintain; vindicate; excuse; exculpate;
        absolve; exonerate.
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