To provide a good reason or explanation for why something is right, necessary, or acceptable.
From Old French 'justifier,' derived from Latin 'justificāre' (justus 'just' + facere 'to make'). Originally meant to make something just or righteous.
In typography, 'justify' means to make text align perfectly on both sides—this comes from the same root word! Both usages are about making things line up perfectly according to a standard.
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