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Justification

1. The act of justifying or the state of being justified; a showing or proving to be just or conformable to law, justice, right, or duty; defense; vindication; support; as, arguments in justification of the prisoner's conduct; his disobedience admits justification. I hope, for my brothers justification, he wrote this but as an essay or taste of my virtue. (Shak)

2. The showing in court of a sufficient lawful reason why a party charged or accused did that for which he is called to answer.

3. The act of justifying, or the state of being justified, in respect to gods requirements. Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification. (Rom. Iv. 25) In such righteousness to them by faith imputed, they may find justification toward god, and peace Of conscience. (Milton)

4. Adjustment of type by spacing it so as to make it exactly fill a line, or of a cut so as to hold it in the right place; also, the leads, quads, etc, used for making such adjustment.

Origin: L. Justificatio: cf. F. Justification. See justify.