Wiktionary

justice

See also: Justice

English

edit

Etymology

edit

From Middle English justice, from Old French justise, justice (Modern French justice), from Latin iūstitia (“righteousness, equity”), from iūstus (“just”), from iūs (“right”), from Proto-Italic *jowos, perhaps literally "sacred formula", a word peculiar to Latin (not general Italic) that originated in the religious cults, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂yew-. Doublet of Justitia.

Partly displaced native Old English rihtwīsnes (Modern English righteousness < rightwiseness).

Pronunciation

edit

Noun

edit

justice (countable and uncountable, plural justices)

  1. The state or characteristic of being just or fair.
    the justice of a description
    • c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene vii]:
      This even-handed justice / Commends the ingredients of our poisoned chalice / To our own lips.
    • 2001, David L. Lieber, Jules Harlow, Etz Hayim: Torah and Commentary, page 8:
      God recognized the justice of the moon's plea and compensated for its diminution by promising that only the moon would be seen both day and night.
  2. The ideal of fairness, impartiality, etc., especially with regard to the punishment of wrongdoing.
    Justice was served.
  3. Judgment and punishment of a party who has allegedly wronged another.
    to demand justice
  4. The civil power dealing with law.
    Ministry of Justice
    the justice system
  5. A title given to judges of certain courts; capitalized when placed before a name.
    Mr. Justice Krever presides over the appellate court
    • 2024 March 4, Gail Collins, Bret Stephens, “Trump Is the Leading Man”, in The New York Times‎[1], →ISSN:
      Gee, I guess that’s up to the justices. Can’t imagine this court — which I find too conservative but not crazy — is going to issue a ruling that says a president can break any law in the land as an “official act” without consequence.
  6. Correctness, conforming to reality or rules.
    • 1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], “Of the Inhabitants of Lilliput; […]”, in Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. […] [Gulliver’s Travels], volume I, London: […] Benj[amin] Motte, […], →OCLC, part I (A Voyage to Lilliput), pages 106–107:
      As to Perſons of Quality, they give Security to appropriate a certain Sum for each Child, ſuitable to their Condition; and theſe Funds are always managed with good Husbandry and the moſt exact Juſtice.

Synonyms

edit

Antonyms

edit

Derived terms

edit
edit

Translations

edit
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked

See also

edit

Further reading

edit

Czech

edit

Pronunciation

edit

Noun

edit

justice f

  1. justice
    Synonym: spravedlnost
  2. judicial system
  3. administration of justice
  4. (dated) gallows

Declension

edit
Declension of justice (soft feminine)
singular plural
nominative justice justice
genitive justice justic, justicí
dative justici justicím
accusative justici justice
vocative justice justice
locative justici justicích
instrumental justicí justicemi

French

edit

Etymology

edit

Inherited from Old French justise, justice, borrowed from Latin jūstitia. Doublet of justesse.

Pronunciation

edit

Noun

edit

justice f (plural justices)

  1. justice

Derived terms

edit
edit

Descendants

edit

References

edit

Further reading

edit

Norman

edit

Etymology

edit

From Old French justise, justice, borrowed from Latin iūstitia, jūstitia (“righteousness, equity”), from iūstus (“just”), from iūs (“right”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂yew-.

Noun

edit

justice f (plural justices)

  1. (Jersey) justice

Old French

edit

Noun

edit

justice oblique singular, f (oblique plural justices, nominative singular justice, nominative plural justices)

  1. Alternative form of justise
Retrieved from "https://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=justice&oldid=84863215"