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—justiceless, adj./jus"tis/, n.1. the quality of being just; righteousness, equitableness, or moral rightness: to uphold the justice of a cause.2. rightfulness or lawfulness, as of a claim or title; justness of ground or reason: to complain with justice.3. the moral principle determining just conduct.4. conformity to this principle, as manifested in conduct; just conduct, dealing, or treatment.5. the administering of deserved punishment or reward.6. the maintenance or administration of what is just by law, as by judicial or other proceedings: a court of justice.7. judgment of persons or causes by judicial process: to administer justice in a community.8. a judicial officer; a judge or magistrate.9. (cap.) Also called Justice Department. the Department of Justice.10. bring to justice, to cause to come before a court for trial or to receive punishment for one's misdeeds: The murderer was brought to justice.11. do justice,a. to act or treat justly or fairly.b. to appreciate properly: We must see this play again to do it justice.c. to acquit in accordance with one's abilities or potentialities: He finally got a role in which he could do himself justice as an actor.[1150-1200; ME < OF < L justitia, equiv. to just(us) JUST1 + -itia -ICE]
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IIn philosophy, the concept of a proper proportion between a person's deserts (what is merited) and the good and bad things that befall or are allotted to him or her.Aristotle's discussion of the virtue of justice has been the starting point for almost all Western accounts. For him, the key element of justice is treating like cases alike, an idea that has set later thinkers the task of working out which similarities (need, desert, talent) are relevant. Aristotle distinguishes between justice in the distribution of wealth or other goods (distributive justice) and justice in reparation, as, for example, in punishing someone for a wrong he has done (retributive justice). The notion of justice is also essential in that of the just state, a central concept in political philosophy. See also law.II(as used in expressions)* * *
Universalium. 2010.