[f. JUST a.: cf. adverbial use of F. juste.]
1. Exactly, precisely; verily, actually; closely: cf. EVEN adv. 6. Formerly often even just. Qualifying a prep., adv. or advb. phrase; or (in e, f, g) an adj., pron. or sb.
a. Of place or position. Just at, in, over (etc.) the = at, in, over (etc.) the very. † Just to, right up to, even to, as far as to; just to the, to the very.
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 1123. The gyaunt he hyttez, Iust to the genitales; and iaggede thame in sondre.
1463. Bury Wills (Camden), 39. That ymage to be set just ageyn the peleer.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, lxxxiii. 259. He passyd iust by kyng Charlemayn.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 287. There was also a chapel iust by, wherin were burning innumerable Tapers.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 267. The Englishe Marshalles ranne abroade even iust to Parys, and brent Saint Germayns.
1616. Surfl. & Markh., Country Farme, 2. Euen iust in the place whereupon the Sunne riseth.
1617. Moryson, Itin., 160. You have now hit me just where my paine lies.
1665. R. Hooke, Microgr., v. 9. They double all the Stuff that is to be water’d, that is, they crease it just through the middle of it.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 254, ¶ 6. A beautiful young Creature who sat just before me.
1745. De Foe’s Eng. Tradesman, xxv. (1841), I. 248. We are butted and bounded just where we were in queen Elizabeth’s time.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, VII. x. Here is a very creditable, good house just by.
1884. Sir N. Lindley, in Law Rep. 25 Chanc. Div. 319. The case … appears to me to break down just at the critical point.
Mod. You know where the path crosses a small stream: I met him just there; yes, just at that spot.
b. Of time.
1574. W. Bourne, Regiment for Sea, Introd. (1577), C iij. Then ryseth the Sunne at fiue of the clocke iust, and setteth at seuen of the clocke iust.
1599. Shaks., Hen. V., II. iii. 13. A parted eu’n iust betweene Twelue and One.
1672. C. Manners, in 12th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. V. 25. Mr. Cooper … actually began it, but just then fell dangerously sicke.
1698. Fryer, Acc. E. India & P., 59. Just that Day Twelvemonth you left me Aboard Ship at Gravesend.
1777. Johnson, Lett. to Mrs. Thrale, 6 Oct. I purpose soon to be at Lichfield, but know not just when.
1853. Lytton, My Novel, III. iv. Just at that precise moment, who should appear but Mr. Stirn!
1895. Bookman, Oct., 18/1. New Guinea was filling a good deal of colonial thoughts just then.
c. Of manner. Just as = precisely in the way that, in the very way that. Just so, precisely in that way; exactly as has been said.
1607–12. Bacon, Ess., Custom & Educ. (Arb.), 368. To heare Men professe,… give great wordes, and then doe iust as they have done before.
1665. R. Hooke, Microgr., lx. 57. A Sphere, which will … grow bigger, just after the same manner … as the waves or rings on the surface of the water.
1735. Pope, Ep. Lady, 161. She speaks, behaves, and acts just as she ought.
1819. Byron, Juan, II. clxvii. He was in love … so was she Just in the way we very often see.
1836. Charlotte Elliott, Hymn. Just as I am, without one plen.
1881. Grant White, England, xvi. 388. Just so, just so, is the most common phrase of general assent.
1891. E. Peacock, N. Brendon, I. 117. I will do just as you advise.
d. Of degree. Just as, just so, to the same degree as.
1551. Recorde, Pathw. Knowl., I. xix. Then shall you make one right line iuste as long as two of those vnequall sides.
1688. J. Smith, Baroscope, 51. So much of it as may sink it down just so low as the End of the Gage.
1766. Goldsm., Vic. W., xx. Finding that my expectations were just as great as my purse.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., vii. II. 209. His object was to grant just so much favour to them as might suffice to frighten the Churchmen into submission.
1889. R. S. S. Baden-Powell, Pigsticking, 146. All other articles can be obtained just as well on the spot.
e. Of amount, number or quantity: with a sb. or adj.
1583. Stubbes, Anat. Abus., II. (1882), 38. Such as … haue either iust nothing, or else very little at all.
1590. Shaks., Com. Err., IV. i. 7. Euen iust the sum that I do owe to you. Ibid. (1596), Merch. V., IV. i. 326. Nor cut thou lesse nor more But iust a pound of flesh.
1653. H. More, Antid. Ath., I. vii. (1712), 20. There are just five regular Bodies.
c. 1717. Prior, Epitaph, 12. They did just Nothing all the Day.
1821. J. Q. Adams, in C. Davies, Metric Syst., III. (1871), 229. The troy weights … had then been just one century in use.
1883. Daily News, 22 Sept., 4/5. It is just a fortnight since Mr. Gladstone embarked.
f. Of likeness, sameness, identity, or the contrary, with a sb. or adj. Just it, precisely the very thing or point in question.
1594. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., IV. iv. § 1. They go about to make us belieue that they are just of the same opinion.
1600. Shaks., A. Y. L., II. i. 56. ’Tis iust the fashion.
1657. R. Ligon, Barbadoes (1673), 39. As dry as Stock-fish, and just such meat for flesh, as that is for fish.
1796. Jane Austen, Pride & Prej., ii. The astonishment of the ladies was just what he wished.
1809. Malkin, Gil Blas, VII. ii. ¶ 3. You seem to be just the thing for him.
1851. Mayne Reid, Scalp Hunt., ii. 19. St. Vrain said I was just the man for their life.
1862. Mrs. H. Wood, Mrs. Hallib., II. iii. ‘You have enten it all the season.’ ‘That’s just it,’ answered Herbert. ‘I have eaten so much of it that I am sick of it.’
1865. Mrs. Carlyle, Lett., III. 252. One cannot do just what one likes best.
g. in U.S. used freely before a demonstrative, an interrogative introducing a subject-clause, etc.
1884. G. B. Goode, Fisheries U. S., Sect. V. II. 543. Just what makes the best lodgement for oyster spawn … has been greatly discussed. Ibid., 544. Just how many bushels a man will place on an acre depends upon both his means and his judgment.
1900. Hempl, in School Rev. (U.S.), June, 322. Just this happened in Latin.
h. Not just: not exactly, not quite.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe, I. xix. Our guide being something before us, and not just in sight.
1816. Chalmers, Lett., in Life (1851), II. 59. I told you … that I was not just so well.
† 2. In an exact or accurate manner; so as to correspond exactly; with precision; accurately; punctually; correctly. Obs.
1549–62. Sternhold & H., Ps. ciii. 14. The Lord that made vs knoweth our shape, Our mould and fashion iust.
1575. Gamm. Gurton, II. ii. Her cock … yt nightly crowed so iust.
1590. Swinburne, Testaments, 19 b. Borrowing that definition, which agreeth so just with their testamentes.
c. 1600. Shaks., Sonn., cix. I returne againe Iust to the time.
1667. Pepys, Diary, 1 Oct. The instrumental musick he had brought by practice to play very just.
1743. T. Jones, in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.), I. 405. I … send the enclosed plan, which describes the ground very near just.
† b. So as to fit exactly; in a close-fitting way: cf. JUST a. 8. Obs.
1561. Daus, trans. Bullinger on Apoc. (1573), 16 b. This [coat] cleaueth iust to the body.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts (1658), 310. The first pin would be somewhat flat in the midst, to the intent that the other, being round, may … close the juster together.
1676. Etheredge, Man of Mode, I. i. You love to have your clothes hang just, sir.
† 3. In replies and expressions of assent; = ‘Exactly so,’ ‘just so,’ ‘right.’ Also even just. Obs.
a. 1533. Frith, Answ. Rastel, Wks. (1573), 14. Euen iust, if heauen fell we should catche larkes.
1588. Shaks., Tit. A., IV. ii. 24. O ’tis a verse in Horace, I know it well…. Moore. I just, a verse in Horace. Ibid. (1600), A. Y. L., III. ii. 281. Iaq. Rosalinde is your loues name? Orl. Yes, Iust.
1694. Congreve, Double-Dealer, III. ii. F. You know laughing without a jest is as impertinent; hee! as as—C. As dancing without a fiddle. F. Just, i’ faith!
1698. Vanbrugh, Prov. Wife, II. ii. T. I guess the dialogue, madam, is supposed to be between your majesty and your first minister. Lady F. Just.
4. absol. of time: Exactly at the moment spoken of; precisely now (or then). a. with retrospective reference: Not before this (or that) moment; hence loosely, A very little before; with little preceding interval; within a brief preceding period; very recently. b. with prospective reference: Not after this (or that) moment; hence loosely, A very little after, ‘directly,’ ‘in a moment,’ very soon; also, of state or condition, On the point of being…, all but, very nearly. (See also just now in 7.)
1667. Milton, P. L., IV. 863. The western point, where those half-rounding guards Just met, and closing stood in squadron joind.
1671. R. Bohun, Wind, 177. Winds … where they come just off from the Burning Sands.
1681–6. J. Scott, Chr. Life (1747), III. 548. With what a stern and terrible Majesty he sits upon yonder flaming Throne, from whence he is now just ready to exact of ye a dreadful Account.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 430. Broken Boughs and Thyme, And pleasing Casia just renew’d in prime.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe, I. xviii. Presently the captain replied, ‘Tell his excellency I am just a coming.’
1758. S. Hayward, Serm., v. 145. The apostle had just been speaking of Jesus Christ.
1768. Sterne, Sent. Journ. (1778), II. 10. (Fille de Chambre), I was just bidding her—but she did it of herself.
1818. Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), VI. 492. His only child was just dead.
1884. Daily News, 8 April, 5/4. The writer adds that he ‘saw a man just dead, and he was crawling towards us.’ [Eng. Dial. Dict., s.v., Pembrokesh. ‘He’s just dead’ = likely to die soon.]
Mod. I have just seen him cross the street.
5. No more than; only, merely; barely. Often preceded by but or only. a. qualifying a vb. or adj.
1665. R. Hooke, Microgr., vii. 38. Distilled water, that is so cold that it just begins to freeze.
1693. Dryden, Juvenal (1697), p. lxxv. Let Horace, who is the Second, and but just the Second, carry off the Quivers and the Arrows.
1735. Pope, Ep. Lady, 50. She … was just not ugly, and was just not mad.
1739. Chesterf., Lett. (1774), I. xxxvi. 125. He can just be said to live, and that is all.
1870. Scott, Lady of L., III. ii. The Western breeze Just kissed the lake, just stirred the trees. Ibid. (1826), Woodst., xiii. Everard had but just time to bid Wildrake hold the horses.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., ii. I. 157. Men who … seemed to think that they had given an illustrious proof of loyalty by just stopping short of regicide.
1889. R. S. S. Baden-Powell, Pigsticking, 98. Fissures just wide enough to admit a horse’s leg and deep enough to take one to the Antipodes.
b. with a sb.
1785. Burns, 1st Ep. Lapraik, ix. I am nae Poet, in a sense, But just a Rhymer, like, by chance.
1865. Mrs. Carlyle, Lett., III. 279. Just a line to say that all goes well.
1884. W. C. Smith, Kildrostan, 92. Doris is not a Cleopatra … she’s just a Highland lady Touched with an Eastern strain.
c. Used to extenuate the action expressed by a verb, and so to represent it as a small thing.
1815. Scott, Wav., lxiii. As it’s near the darkening, sir, wad ye just step in by to our house?
1826. Disraeli, Viv. Grey, II. xvi. I will just walk on till I am beneath her window.
1862. G. Macdonald, D. Elginbrod, vii. 129. Just tell my maid to bring me an old pair of gloves.
1884. F. M. Crawford, Rom. Singer, I. 4. Just imagine whether you are not quite as able to feed him as Gigi is.
1898. Flor. Montgomery, Tony, 13. Mother! do just get in with me for a few minutes till the train starts.
6. No less than; absolutely; actually, positively; really; quite; neither more nor less than, simply. Chiefly Sc. and dial.
1726. J. M., Trag. Hist. Chev., 84. When I heard this melancholy News, I was just ready to expire with Grief.
1768. Ross, Helenore, I. 11. They were a’ just like to eat their thumb That he with Nory sae far ben should come. Ibid., 30. Her stinking breath Was just enough to sconfise ane to death.
1838. Jas. Grant, Sk. Lond., 209. ‘And she also disappeared?’ ‘She jost did, Sir.’
1863. Mrs. H. Wood, Mrs. Hallib., xix. If anybody asked you for your head, ma’am, you’d just cut it off and give it.
1866. Ruskin, Crown of Olives (1873), 75. ‘But what has all this to do with our Exchange?’… My dear friends, it has just everything to do with it.
Mod. colloq. He’s got a double first, isn’t it just splendid?
b. As an emphatic expletive; in Sc. and north. dial., strengthening an assertion: Truly, indeed.
1855. Smedley, H. Coverdale, v. 26. Won’t they be surprised to see us, just?
1891. Even. Chron., 19 March, 3/4. Mr. Williamson: Was it a ferocious dog?—Witness: It was, just. (Laughter).
Mod. Sc. A. I did not take it! B. You did just.
7. Just now. a. Exactly at this point of time; at this exact moment, precisely at present.
1681–6. J. Scott, Chr. Life (1747), III. 324. The Prince of Devils is just now mustering up all his Legions against me.
1860. Mrs. Carlyle, Lett., III. 43. Just now I am too vexed for making a good story.
1867. Freeman, Norm. Conq., I. v. 394. Just now he did nothing to check the panic.
Mod. That is his residence; but he is not there just now.
b. But now; only a very short time ago.
1633. Ford, ’Tis Pity, I. iv. My barber told me just now, that there is a fellow come to town [etc.].
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 106, ¶ 6. The good Man whom I have just now mentioned.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), III. 296. As you were saying just now.
c. Directly, immediately, very soon, presently.
1682. D’Urfey, Butler’s Ghost, I. 75. That I will, Cries he. But (quoth the Squire) just now T’must be.
1879. Trollope, Thackeray, ix. 187. I will give one or two instances just now.
1901. Eng. Dial. Dict., s.v., Cumberl. I’ll come just now. [So in most local dialects.]
8. Comb. with pples., and with adjs.
1605. Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. iii. IV. Captaines. Just-Duked Josuah cheers the Abramides To Canaans Conquest.
1818. Bentham, Ch. Eng., 55. An infant? Yea, a just-born infant.
1847. L. Hunt, Men, Women, & B. (1876), 297. A just-bearable specimen of the way in which ladies of quality could write.
1876. Geo. Eliot, Dan. Der., lxiii. Her curls in as much disorder as a just-awakened child’s.
1884. F. H. Myers, in Fortn. Rev., 613. The companionship of the just-elder sister.
1885. J. K. Jerome, On the Stage, 27. There being a dismal, just-got-up sort of look about him.
