English
justification
Justification comes from Middle French justification ‘justification (all senses)’, from Late Latin iustifico ‘to act justly (towards)’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂yew- ‘right, justice, law’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂yew-‘right, justice, law’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂yéwosreconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*jowos‘court of law’reconstructed
- Archaic Latinc. 700–75 BCE*iowosreconstructed
- Archaic Latin, derivedc. 700–75 BCEiovestos
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEiustus‘just, righteous’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEiustifico‘to act justly (towards)’
- Late Latin, derivedc. 200–600 CEiustificationem
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600justification‘justification (all senses)’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500justificacioun
- Englishearliest quotation 1999justification
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂yew-‘right, justice, law’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂yéwosreconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*jowos‘court of law’reconstructed
- Archaic Latinc. 700–75 BCE*iowosreconstructed
- Archaic Latin, derivedc. 700–75 BCEiovestos
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEiustus‘just, righteous’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEiustifico‘to act justly (towards)’
- Late Latin, derivedc. 200–600 CEiustificationem
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600justification‘justification (all senses)’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500justificacioun
- Englishearliest quotation 1999justification
Earliest quotation: 1999, Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Jus: “[…] to articulate a common understanding of our justification…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂yew- ‘right, justice, law’
yet, jurist, injurious, 25 more
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂yéwos
through Proto-Italic *jowos ‘court of law’
judge, judgment, judicial, preach, judiciary, prejudice, predicament, predicate, judicious, adjudicate, judicature, 26 more
through Archaic Latin *iowos
through Latin iustus ‘just, righteous’
Today it means
noun A reason, explanation, or excuse which someone believes provides convincing, morally acceptable support for behavior or for a belief or occurrence.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₂yew- / justification