just

comparative juster · comparative more just · superlative justest · superlative most just · alternative jes · alternative jes' · alternative jest · alternative jist · alternative jus' · alternative iust · alternative j · alternative js

1. Factually right, correct; factual.

   It is a just assessment of the facts.

2. Rationally right, correct.
3. Morally right; upright, righteous, equitable; fair.

   It looks like a just solution at first glance.

   4 more examples

   My lord, we know your grace to be a man Just and upright.

   1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Sixt”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals)

   Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Colossians 4:1

   Here is a Proclamation for a Prince: that proclaims him in whoſe name it is emitted [James II of England], to be the greateſt Tyrant that ever lived in the world, and their Revolt who have diſowned him to be the juſteſt that ever was.

   1744, Alexander Shiels [i.e., Alexander Shields], “Period VI. Containing the Testimony through the Continued Tract of the Present Deformation, from the Year 1660 to this Day.”, in A Hind Let Loose: Or, An Historical Representation of the Testimonies of the Church of Scotland, for the Interest of Christ; with the True State thereof in All Its Periods: …, Edinburgh: Reprinted by R. Drummond and Company, and sold by William Gray bookbinder in the Grassmarket, and several others, &c., →OCLC, pages 167–168

   Looking back over my previously written account of these things, I must insist that I have been altogether juster to Cavor than he has been to me.

   1900 December – 1901 August, H[erbert] G[eorge] Wells, “chapter 23”, in The First Men in the Moon, London: George Newnes, […], published 1901, →OCLC

4. Proper, adequate.

alternative jes · alternative jes' · alternative jest · alternative jist · alternative jus' · alternative iust · alternative j · alternative js

1. not comparableOnly, simply, merely.

   He calls it vermilion, but it's just red to me.

   4 more examples

   Just plant a few tomatoes, unless you can freeze or dry them.

   Philander went into the next room, which was just a lean-to hitched on to the end of the shanty, and came back with a salt mackerel that dripped brine like a rainstorm. Then he put the coffee pot on the stove and rummaged out a loaf of dry bread and some hardtack.

   1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter VIII, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC

   From the ground, Colombo’s port does not look like much.[…] But viewed from high up in one of the growing number of skyscrapers in Sri Lanka’s capital, it is clear that something extraordinary is happening: China is creating a shipping hub just 200 miles from India’s southern tip.

   2013 June 8, “The new masters and commanders”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8839, page 52

   Swearing doesn't just mean what we now understand by "dirty words". It is entwined, in social and linguistic history, with the other sort of swearing: vows and oaths.

   2013 June 14, Sam Leith, “Where the profound meets the profane”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 1, page 37

   1. not comparableIntroduces a disappointing or surprising outcome that renders futile something previously mentioned.

      I helped him out, just for him to betray me.

      1 more example

      I spent two hours cooking my favorite recipe, just to burn the rice and ruin the meal.

2. not comparablesentence adverbUsed to reduce the force of an imperative; simply.

   Just follow the directions on the box.

3. not comparablesentence adverbUsed to increase the force of an imperative; simply, without questioning.

   I'm tired of playing games – just get it done.

4. not comparableUsed to convey a less serious or formal tone.

   I just called to say "hi".

5. not comparabledegreeAbsolutely, positively.

   just fine

   1 more example

   It is just splendid!

6. Barely, hardly, scarcely.
   1. not comparableMoments ago, only very recently.

      They just left, but you may leave a message at the desk.

      1 more example

      Philander went into the next room[…]and came back with a salt mackerel[…]. Next he put the mackerel in a fry-pan, and the shanty began to smell like a Banks boat just in from a v'yage.

      1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter VIII, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC

   2. not comparableBy a narrow margin; closely; narrowly; almost not.

      The piece just might fit.

      3 more examples

      The fastball just missed my head!

      The fire department arrived just in time.

      Nanny Broome was looking up at the outer wall. Just under the ceiling there were three lunette windows, heavily barred and blacked out in the normal way by centuries of grime.

      1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 14, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC

      Synonyms: barely

7. not comparableExactly, precisely, perfectly.

   He wants everything just right for the big day.

   4 more examples

   And having just enough, not covet more.

   1693, Decimus Junius Juvenalis, John Dryden, transl., “[The Satires of Decimus Junius Juvenalis.] The Fourteenth Satyr”, in The Satires of Decimus Junius Juvenalis. Translated into English Verse. […] Together with the Satires of Aulus Persius Flaccus. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson […], →OCLC

   The god Pan […] guided my hand so just to the heart of the beast.

   The New Arcadia

   c. 1580 (date written), Philippe Sidnei [i.e., Philip Sidney], “[The Second Booke] Chapter 19”, in [Fulke Greville; Matthew Gwinne; John Florio], editors, The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia [The New Arcadia], London: […] [John Windet] for William Ponsonbie, published 1590, →OCLC, folio 122, recto

   To-night, at Herne's oak, just 'twixt twelve and one.

   c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merry Wiues of Windsor”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene vi]

   Private-equity nabobs bristle at being dubbed mere financiers. Piling debt onto companies’ balance-sheets is only a small part of what leveraged buy-outs are about, they insist. Improving the workings of the businesses they take over is just as core to their calling, if not more so. Much of their pleading is public-relations bluster.

   2013 June 22, “Engineers of a different kind”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8841, page 70

   Synonyms: on the dot

alternative jes · alternative jes' · alternative jest · alternative jist · alternative jus' · alternative iust · alternative j · alternative js

1. slangExpressing dismay or discontent.

plural justs

1. A joust, tournament.

   Justs and tilts were held here weekly, while the great tourneys that occurred less often were given upon a field outside the castle wall upon the floor of the valley.

   1928, Edgar Rice Burroughs, chapter 11, in Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle, 1st edition, page 139

present singular third person justs · participle present justing · participle past justed · past justed

1. To joust, fight a tournament.

   He iusts with her vnknowne whom he lou’d best, [...].

   1600, [Torquato Tasso], “The Third Booke of Godfrey of Bulloigne”, in Edward Fairefax [i.e., Edward Fairfax], transl., Godfrey of Bulloigne, or The Recouerie of Ierusalem. […], London: […] Ar[nold] Hatfield, for I[saac] Iaggard and M[atthew] Lownes, →OCLC, page 39