[a. F. juste (= Pr. just, Sp., Pg. justo, It. giusto) or immed. ad. L. jūstus righteous, equitable, rightful, f. jūs right, law, justice.]
1. That does what is morally right, righteous. Just before (with) God or, simply, just: Righteous in the sight of God; justified. Now chiefly as a Biblical archaism.
1382. Wyclif, Ezek. xxxiii. 12. The riȝtwijsnesse of a iust man [Vulg. justitia justi; 1388 The riȝtfulnesse of a riȝtful man]. Ibid., Luke i. 6. Sothli thei bothe weren iuste [so 1388: Vulg. justi] bifore God. Ibid., Rom. iii. 26. That he be iust [so 1388: Vulg. justus], and iustifyinge him that is of the feith of Ihesu Crist.
1526. Tindale, Matt. v. 45. He … sendeth his reyne on the iuste and on the iniuste [Vulg. bonos et malos].
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 6. Scripture, declareth playnly, howe it is faith that maketh us iust before God.
1561. T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., III. iv. § 28. 211. The iustest man passeth no one day wherein he falleth not many times.
1659. Shirley, Ajax & Ulysses, iii. Only the actions of the just Smell sweet and blossom in the dust.
1719. Watts, Hymn, ‘Not to the terrors,’ iii. Behold the spirits of the just, Whose faith is turn’d to sight!
1824. R. Hall, Wks. (1832), VI. 355. God can be at once the just and the justifier.
† b. absol. in singular. Obs. or arch.
1382. Wyclif, Acts vii. 52. The prophetis … that bifore teelden of the comynge of the iust [1611 the Iust one].
1526. Tindale, Acts vii. 52. That iust whom ye haue betrayed.
1535. Coverdale, Ps. xxxvi[i]. 12. The vngodly layeth wayte for the iust, & gnasȝsheth vpon him with his tethe [so 1611 and R.V.].
2. Upright and impartial in one’s dealings; rendering every one his due; equitable.
1382. Wyclif, 1 John i. 9. If we knowlechen oure synnes, he is feithful and iust [Vulg. justus] that he forȝiue to us our synnes.
1484. Caxton, Fables of Æsop, II. Proem. The good ond Iuste be not subget to the lawe as we fynde and rede of alle the Athenyens.
1508. Dunbar, Thistle & Rose, 122. Scho … bawd him be als just to awppis and owlis, As vnto pacokkis.
1553. T. Wilson, Rhet. (1580), 209. I mistrust not the Iudges, because thei are iuste.
1605. Shaks., Lear, V. iii. 170. The Gods are iust, and of our pleasant vices Make instruments to plagve vs.
1725. Pope, Odyss., XIII. 249. Some juster prince perhaps had entertained, And safe restored me to my native land.
1771. Junius Lett., lvi. 294. How much easier it is to be generous than just.
1850. Tennyson, In Mem., Prol. Thou madest man, he knows not why … And Thou hast made him: Thou art just.
1853. Lytton, My Novel, V. iii. He was just, but as a matter of business. He made no allowances.
1866. Ruskin, Mod. Paint., V. IX. i. § 13. 204. Just! What is that?… dealing equitably or equally.
† b. Faithful or honorable in one’s social relations. Const. of, to. Obs.
1601. Shaks., Jul. C., III. ii. 90. He was my Friend, faithfull, and iust to me.
1624. Capt. Smith, Virginia, I. 3. He was very iust of his promise.
1727. Pope, Epit. R. Digby. Just of thy word, in ev’ry thought sincere.
1809. Campbell, Gertr. Wyom., III. xxix. Friend to more than human friendship just.
3. a. Consonant with the principles of moral right or of equity; righteous; equitable; fair. Of rewards, punishments, etc.: Deserved, merited.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 214. More it Ioyes me, Iason, of þi iust werkes.
c. 1430. Hymns Virg., 114. The hiȝest lessoun þat man may lere Is to lyue iust lijf.
1553. Eden, Treat. Newe Ind. (Arb.), 5. If honest commendacions be a iust reward dew to noble enterprises.
1590. R. Hitchcock, Quintess. Wit, 5. That warre is iust, that is necessarye.
1632. J. Hayward, trans. Biondi’s Eromena, 33. I will never rest, till I have executed just vengeance on him that unjustly slew thee.
1766. Goldsm., Vic. W., viii. You’ll think it just that I should give them an opportunity to retaliate.
1840. Dickens, Barn. Rudge, vi. Is this fair, or reasonable, or just to yourself?
quasi-sb. 1667. Milton, P. L., VI. 381. Strength from Truth divided and from Just … naught merits but dispraise.
b. Constituted by law or by equity, grounded on right, lawful, rightful; that is such legally; † legally valid (obs.).
c. 1430. Lydg., Min. Poems (Percy Soc.), 17. The degre be just successioune … Unto the kyng is now descended doune.
1542. in Marsden, Sel. Pl. Crt. Adm. (1894), I. 116. Being in his lyfetyme juste owner and possessor of a certayne waterboote.
1642. Perkins’ Prof. Bk., ix. § 581. 253. Where a just grant or other thing cannot take effect without a deed.
1667. Milton, P. L., II. 38. We now return To claim our just inheritance of old.
1712–4. Pope, Rape Lock, III. 60. The rebel Knave, who dares his prince engage, Proves the just victim of his royal rage.
1726–31. Tindal, Rapin’s Hist. Eng. (1743), II. XVII. 100. Another Person has a juster title than she to the Crown.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., iv. I. 443. He [James II.] would still go as far as any man in support of her [his country’s] just liberties.
4. Having reasonable or adequate grounds; well-founded.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, III. 1178 (1227). Al quyt from euery drede and teene As she þat Iuste cause hadde hym to triste.
1553. T. Wilson, Rhet. (1580), 217. Images we maie chaunge, as the matter shall give iuste cause.
1633. P. Fletcher, Purple Isl., XI. xii. A simple maid, With justest grief and wrong so ill apaid.
1792. Anecd. W. Pitt, II. xxix. 130. The excuse is a valid one if it is a just one.
1796. Eliza Hamilton, Lett. Hindoo Rajah, I. 45. Alas! my fears were just. The pure spirit had fled from its corporeal confinement.
1858. Gen. P. Thompson, Audi Alt., II. lxxiv. 23. The justest object of jealousy to wise men in all ages.
5. Conformable to the standard, or to what is fitting or requisite; right in amount, proportion, æsthetic quality, etc.; proper; correct.
c. 1430. Lydg., Min. Poems (Percy Soc.), 60. Iuste weight halte justly the balaunce.
1588. W. Smith, Brief Descr. Lond. (Harl. MS. 6363 lf. 13). If they ffynd [the weights] not Iust: they breake them.
1598. Yong, Diana, 491. A maruellous sweete concent keeping iust time and measure.
1671. R. Bohun, Wind, 67. So that a just and moderate condensation is necessary to the constitution of Winds.
1734. J. Ward, Introd. Math., II. xi. (ed. 6), 139. The First Root is 300 being less than Just.
1750. Johnson, Rambler, No. 23, ¶ 9. Rules for the just opposition of colours, and the proper dimensions of ruffles and pinners.
1821. J. Q. Adams, in C. Davies, Metric Syst., III. (1871), 74. The first of these injunctions … commands that the standards should be just.
1877. E. R. Conder, Bas. Faith, v. 203. The just balance between the moral and intellectual sides of his nature is often destroyed.
b. Mus. in just interval, intonation, etc.: Harmonically pure; sounding perfectly in tune.
1850. Gen. P. Thompson (title), Theory and Practice of Just Intonation.
1878. W. H. Stone, Sci. Basis Music, v. § 90. The differences of the old [mean-tone] and equal systems [of temperament], and their respective departures from just intonation.
1881. Broadhouse, Mus. Acoustics, 353. Just Intonation, where all the Fifths and Thirds are perfect, used only by singers and theorists.
6. Of speech, ideas, opinions, arguments, etc.: In accordance with reason, truth or fact; right; true; correct. Often with mixture of sense 3.
1490. Caxton, Eneydos, xxi. 77. He refuseth to lene his eeres for to vnderstande my wordes that ben soo iuste and resonable.
a. 1610. Healey, Theophrastus (1636), 20. He maintaineth, that strangers speake wiser and juster things than his own fellow-citizens.
1725. Pope, Odyss., III. 306. Much he knows, and just conclusions draws From various precedents, and various laws.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1776), V. 136. A single glance of a good plate or a picture imprints a juster idea than a volume could convey.
1888. Bryce, Amer. Commw., II. lxxv. 618. To present a just picture of American public opinion one must cut deeper.
† b. Of a copy, description, calculation, etc.: Exact, accurate. [So F. juste.] Said also of personal agents. Obs.
1563. Winȝet, Four Scoir Thre Quest., To Rdr. Wks. 1888, I. 60. We sett furth this iust copie without altering or eiking ony thing.
1657. R. Ligon, Barbadoes (1673), 33. Having given you a just account, as near as my memory will serve of the bread and drink of this Island.
1691. Swift, Athenian Soc., xii. (1710), 119.
| Yet shall these Traces of your Wit remain, | |
| Like a just Map, to tell the vast Extent. |
1704. J. Pitts, Acc. Mahometans, Pref. (1738), 7. I have since procured a just Translation.
1727. Swift, What passed in London. I am apt to think his calculation just to a minute.
1798. G. Forster, Journ. Bengal to Eng., I. 80. The Hindoos of this day … are just imitators, and correct workmen; but they possess merely the glimmerings of genius.
† 7. Adapted to something else, or to an end or purpose; appropriate; suitable. Obs.
c. 1384. Chaucer, H. Fame, II. 211. [It] stant eke in so Iuste a place That euery sovne mot to hyt pace.
1664. Evelyn, Kal. Hort., Introd. (1729), 187. How many Things to be done in their just Season.
c. 1665. Mrs. Hutchinson, Mem. Col. Hutchinson (1846), 32. He was very liberal to them, but ever chose just times and occasions to exercise it.
1684. R. Waller, Nat. Exper., 10. Our Instrument remains still unalterably just to every place where ’tis made use of.
† 8. Of clothing, armor, etc.: Well adjusted, fitting exactly. Hence, Fitting too closely, tight. [So F. juste.] Obs.
a. 1400. Sir Perc., 273. His hode was iuste to his chynne.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 9505. Mekull iust armur.
a. 1450. Knt. de la Tour (1868), 38. Streite and welle sittinge and iuste, that sum tyme the fruite that was in me suffered payne and was in perelle.
1649. Lovelace, Poems, Aramantha. It [a robe] sate close and free, As the just bark unto the Tree.
† 9. Of a calculated result, measure, amount, number, date, etc.: Exact, as opposed to approximate. Also with defining word: That is exactly what is designated; = ‘(the) exact….’ Obs.
c. 1391. Chaucer, Astrol., II. § 3. To haue take a Iust Ascendent by their Astrilabie.
1551. Recorde, Pathw. Knowl., I. iv. Open your compasse to the iust length of ye line.
1594. Acc.-Bk. W. Wray, in Antiquary, XXXII. 118/2. [He] owes me … the iust some of iiili. xixs. id.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., IV. i. 327. If thou tak’st more Or lesse then a iust pound.
1608. Willet, Hexapla Exod., 875. The forepart of the court was a iust square.
1655. Fuller, Ch. Hist., IX. iv. § 3. We cannot exactly tell the just time thereof.
1723–4. Chambers, trans. Le Clerc’s Treat. Archit., I. 105. It shou’d be rais’d to the just height of the Windows.
1759. B. Martin, Nat. Hist. Eng., I. Cornwall, 4. Its Height and just Balance.
† b. Of an instrument, natural action, etc.: Exact or uniform in operation, regular, even. Obs.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Sompn. T., 382. Thou shalt me fynde as Iust as is a squyre.
1579. Gosson, Sch. Abuse (Arb.), 26. The vnfallible motion of the Planets, the iuste course of the yeere.
1665–6. Phil. Trans., I. 60. An instrument composed of two Rulers … will be no longer just at all.
1721. Bailey, Just Divisors are such Numbers or Quantities which will divide a given Number or Quantity, so as to leave no Remainder.
1769. Sir W. Jones, Pal. Fortune, in Poems, etc. (1777), 23. Mark’d the just progress of each rolling sphere.
† 10. Corresponding exactly in amount, duration, position, etc.; equal; even, level. Obs.
1551. Robinson, trans. More’s Utop., II. iv. (1895), 141. Dyuydynge the daye and the nyghte into xxiiii iust houres.
1594. Blundevil, Exerc., III. I. xxxiii. (1636), 343. Untill the last degree of the said Signe do appeare just with the upper edge of the Horizon.
c. 1630. Risdon, Surv. Devon, § 46 (1811), 52. That … well in Derbyshire, which ebbeth and floweth by just tides.
1725. Pope, Odyss., XIV. 483. The destin’d victim to dis-part In sev’n just portions.
† b. Characterized by or involving exact correspondence. Obs.
1753. Hogarth, Anal. Beauty, xi. 83. They meet in just similitude.
1802. Paley, Nat. Theol., xvi. (1819), 258. In consequence of the just collocation, and by means of the joint action of longitudinal and annular fibres.
† 11. That is such properly, fully, or in all respects; complete in amount or in character; full; proper, ‘regular.’ Just battle, in quot. 1603, a regular (pitched) battle [= OF. juste bataille]. Just age (years), full age or age of discretion. Obs.
1588. H. G. trans. Cataneo (title), Briefe Tables to knowe redily howe manye ranckes of footemen … go to the making of a iust battayle.
1588. D. Rogers, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. II. III. 148. They are not minded to Crowne the yonge kinge, before he come to just yeares.
1603. Knolles, Hist. Turks (1621), 663. The skirmish was like to haue come to a iust battell.
a. 1618. Sylvester, Judith, To Rdr. I am the first in Fraunce who in a just Poem hath treated in our tongue of sacred things.
1622. Bacon, Hen. VII., 42. This warre was rather a suppression of Rebels, then a warre with a iust Enemie.
1624. Bedell, Lett., x. 136. It would require a iust volume to shew it.
1668. Culpepper & Cole, Barthol. Anat., III. i. 128. When a man comes to a just age.
1732. Berkeley, Alciphr., I. § 12. Published … sometimes in just volumes, but often in pamphlets and loose papers.
1778. Bp. Lowth, Transl. Isaiah, ix. 7, note. A just poem, remarkable for the regularity of its disposition, and the elegance of its plan.
12. nonce-use. That just is or takes place: cf. JUST adv. 5.
1884. Browning, Ferishtah, Two Camels, 117. A lip’s mere tremble, Look’s half hesitation, cheek’s just change of colour.
13. Comb. a. with a pple. (or another adj.), where just is adverbial in sense, = justly: as just-borne, -conceived, -consuming, -dooming, -judging, -kindled, -tempered, -thinking; just-gentle. b. parasynthetic, as just-minded (whence just-mindedness).
1595. Shaks., John, II. i. 345. Before we will lay downe our *iust-borne Armes.
1633. Ford, Love’s Sacr., V. i. The boundless spleen Of *just-consuming wrath.
1598. Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. ii. I. Noah, 94. The deeds of Heav’ns *just-gentle king. Ibid., 350. In my *just-kindled ire.
1848. Buckley, Iliad, 110. *Just-minded, wise-reflecting Bellerophon.
1887. Pall Mall Gaz., 20 Aug., 2/2. Confidence in the *just-mindedness of their employers.
1829. E. S. Swaine, in Bischoff, Woollen Manuf. (1842), II. 238. At the very name of a drawback or bounty … the *just-thinking legislator must shrink with an instinctive distrust.
