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just

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just¹

  • /d͡ʒʌst/ US, UK
  • /d͡ʒʊst/ Northern England
  • /d͡ʒɛst/ dialectal
  • /d͡ʒɪst/ dialectal
  • /d͡ʒəs(t)/ unstressed

Rhymes with -ʌst

Where it comes from

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *h₂ey-

Proto-Indo-European *-u

Proto-Indo-European *h₂óyu

Proto-Indo-European *h₂yew-

Proto-Indo-European *-os

Proto-Indo-European *h₂yéwos

Proto-Italic *jowos

Archaic Latin *iowos, *iowez-

Proto-Indo-European *-tós

Proto-Italic *-tos

Archaic Latin -tus

Archaic Latin iovestos

Latin iūstus

Old French justebor.

Middle English juste

English just

From Middle English juste, from Old French juste, from Latin iūstus (“just, lawful, rightful, true, due, proper, moderate”), from Proto-Italic *jowestos, related to Latin iūs (“law, right”); ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂yew-. Compare Scots juist (“just”), Saterland Frisian juust (“just”), West Frisian just (“just”), Dutch juist (“just”), German Low German jüst (“jüst”), German just (“just”), Danish just (“just”), Swedish just (“just”). Doublet of giusto.

adjective juster · more just · justest · most just · jes · jes'

  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. Proper, adequate.

Similar: right, correct, righteous, equitable, proper, adequate

adverb jes · jes' · jest · jist · jus' · iust

  1. not comparable Only, simply, merely. Just plant a few tomatoes, unless you can freeze or dry them.
  2. not comparable Introduces a disappointing or surprising outcome that renders futile something previously mentioned. I spent two hours cooking my favorite recipe, just to burn the rice and ruin the meal.
  3. not comparable Used to reduce the force of an imperative; simply. Just follow the directions on the box.
  4. not comparable Used to increase the force of an imperative; simply, without questioning. I'm tired of playing games – just get it done.
  5. not comparable Used to convey a less serious or formal tone. I just called to say "hi".
  6. not comparable Absolutely, positively. It is just splendid!
  7. not comparable Moments ago, only very recently. They just left, but you may leave a message at the desk.
  8. not comparable By a narrow margin; closely; narrowly; almost not. The fastball just missed my head!
  9. not comparable Exactly, precisely, perfectly. He wants everything just right for the big day.

Similar: simply, freshly, lately, newly, hardly, narrowly, scarcely, smack-dab, merely

interjection jes · jes' · jest · jist · jus' · iust

  1. slang Expressing dismay or discontent.

just²

  • /d͡ʒʌst/ US, UK

Rhymes with -ʌst

Where it comes from

Variation of joust, presumably ultimately from Latin iuxta (“near, besides”).

noun 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.

verb justs · justing · justed

  1. To joust, fight a tournament. He iusts with her vnknowne whom he lou’d best, [...].

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