JUSTIFIABLE, JUSTIFIABLY, JUSTIFICATION, JUSTIFY
ADJECTIVES
► JUSTIFICABLE able to be justified → c1454
► JUSTIFICAL providing justification → 1646 obs.
► JUSTIFICATIVE providing justification; providing supporting evidence → 1611
► JUSTIFICATORY providing justification; having the effect of justifying something → 1563
ADVERBS
► JUSTICELY with justice; fairly; rightly; justifiably → 1865
► JUSTILY rightly, justifiably → c1450 obs.
PHRASES
► WHAT ARE YOU WORKING OUT OF? an invitation to explain oneself, to justify one’s actions or opinions → 1990s African-American sl.
VERBS
► BETELL to speak for, to answer for, to justify → 1048 obs.
► CALL SOMEONE’S BLUFF to force someone to justify or validate a pretense; to require the truth → 1870s Amer. sl.
Lexicophilia 