Forms: 2–4 iustise, (3 -ize), 3–6 -is, -ys, (4 iostyse), 3–7 iustice, 4–6 -yce, 5 -yse, (6 -es), 7– justice. [a. OF. justise, -ice (jostise) uprightness, equity, vindication of right, administration of law, jurisdiction, court of justice, infliction of punishment, gallows, judge, etc. (= Pr., Sp. justicia, Pg. justiça, It. giustizia), ad. L. jūstitia righteousness, uprightness, equity, f. jūstus JUST. Sense 4 was the first to be adopted from Norman Fr.]
I. The quality of being just.
1. The quality of being (morally) just or righteous; the principle of just dealing; the exhibition of this quality or principle in action; just conduct; integrity, rectitude. (One of the four cardinal virtues.)
COMMUTATIVE, DISTRIBUTIVE justice see these words.
c. 1340. Cursor M., 8748 (Fairf.). Alle loued salamon for his Iustise.
1387–8. T. Usk, Test. Love, III. i. (Skeat), l. 73. Vertues of soule … whiche been Prudence, Justice, Temperaunce, and Strength.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, I. vii. Ther was he sworne vnto his lordes & the comyns for to be a true kyng, to stand with true Iustyce fro thensforth the dayes of his lyf.
1531. Elyot, Gov., III. i. The auncient Ciuilians do saye iustice is a wille perpetuall and constaunt, whiche gyueth to euery man his right.
1600. E. Blount, trans. Conestaggio, 265. A certaine person … said that in iustice they should burne these priests.
1613. Shaks., Hen. VIII., III. i. 116. If you haue any Iustice, any Pitty.
1733. Pope, Ess. Man, III. 280. Forc’d into virtue thus by Self-defence, Ev’n kings learn’d justice and benevolence.
1769. Junius Lett., v. 27. In justice to our friends.
1848. W. J. O’N. Daunt, Recoll. O’Connell, I. i. 10. The most important ingredient in ‘justice to Ireland’ is the restoration of the Irish Parliament.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xii. III. 212. It would be found that the path of justice was the path of wisdom.
† 2. Theol. Observance of the divine law; righteousness; the state of being righteous or ‘just before God.’ Obs.
1534. More, Treat. Passion, Wks. 1281/1. By the fall of Adam, the whole kynde of man … lost original iustice.
1563. Man, Musculus’ Commonpl., 117 b. Regenerate into new men, so that suppressyng the raygne of synne, we may serve justice.
1581. Marbeck, Bk. of Notes, 187. Christ hauing fulfilled it [the law] for vs, is made our iustice, sanctification, &c.
1622. H. Sydenham, Serm. Sol. Occ. (1637), 70. Whence I gather … that that justice which is conferred on them consists rather in the participation of Christs merits … than in any perfection of vertues or qualities infused.
3. Conformity (of an action or thing) to moral right, or to reason, truth or fact; rightfulness; fairness; correctness; propriety; JUSTNESS 2, 3
1588. Shaks., Tit. A., I. i. 2. Defend the iustice of my Cause with Armes. Ibid. (1591), Two Gent., IV. iii. 29. Thinke … on the iustice of my flying hence, To keepe me from a most vnholy match. Ibid. (1608), Per., IV. iii. 9. A Princes To equall any single Crowne a’th’earth, Ith iustice of compare.
1746. Morell, Judas Maccabæus. (1748), 14 Air.
| Sound an Alarm.——Your silver Trumpets sound, | |
| And call the Brave, and only brave, around.—— | |
| Who listeth, follow;——to the Field again. | |
| Justice with Courage is a thousand Men. |
a. 1769. R. Riccaltoun, Notes Galatians, Wks. 1772, III. 148. With great justice does he bear the title of truth.
1885. Law Times, LXXIX. 130/1. Every lawyer … will appreciate the justice of these observations.
† b. Just claim, right (to something). Obs.
1621. Fletcher, Isl. Princess, II. viii. What justice have you now vnto this lady?
II. Judicial administration of law or equity.
4. Exercise of authority or power in maintenance of right; vindication of right by assignment of reward or punishment; requital of desert.
Poetical justice: the ideal justice in distribution of rewards and punishments supposed to befit a poem or other work of imagination.
1137–54. O. E. Chron., an. 1137. Þa the suikes under gæton ð[at] he [Stephen] milde man was … & na iustise ne dide. Ibid., an. 1140. He dide god iustise and makede pais.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 150. Sal be sythen tald … o salomon þe wis How craftilik he did iustis.
c. 1460. Fortescue, Abs. & Lim. Mon., xix. (1885), 156. We shul nowe mowe enjoye oure owne goode, and live vndir justice.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. IV., 73 b. I am … an anoynted kyng, to whom … it apperteineth … to minister to them indifferent iustice.
1670. Clarendon, Contempl. Ps., Tracts (1727), 601. Where justice is not, the fertilest land becomes barren.
1679. Dryden, Troilus & Cr., Pref. We are glad when we behold his Crimes are punish’d, and that Poetical Justice is done upon him.
1751. Johnson, Rambler, No. 93, ¶ 6. Addison is suspected to have denied the expediency of poetical justice because his own Cato was condemned to perish in a good cause [cf. Spect., No. 40].
1873. Hamerton, Intell. Life, II. ii. (1876), 405. This rough justice of the world.
5. The administration of law, or the forms and processes attending it; judicial proceedings; † in early use, Legal proceedings of any kind (obs.).
Bed of j., College of j., Court of j.: see BED 7, COLLEGE 1 c., COURT 11. High Court of Justice: see quot. 1873.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 1310. Þe fyfþe … ys sle no man wyþ þyn honde Wyþ outyn iustyce, for felonye. Ibid. (c. 1330), Chron. (1810), 315. Þo ilk men … suld … enforme ȝour kynges, Withouten mo justise or trauaile of oþer lordynges.
1484. Caxton, Fables of Æsop, V. x. My fader was no legist … ne also man of Iustyce.
1591. Lambarde, Archeion (1635), 16. I gather … that the King himselfe had a High Court of Justice.
1612. Bacon, Ess., Judicature (Arb.), 456. The place of Iustice is an hallowed place.
1615. G. Sandys, Trav., 62. Here the Vizier Bassas of the Port … do sit in iustice.
a. 1715. Burnet, Own Time (1823), I. 300. The Lord Clarendon put the justice of the nation in very good hands.
1727. A. Hamilton, New Acc. E. Ind., I. v. 48. In no Part of the World is Justice bought and sold more publickly than here.
1859. Tennyson, Enid, 37. Assassins, and all flyers from the hand Of Justice.
1873. Act 36 & 37 Vict., c. 66 § 4. The said Supreme Court shall consist of two permanent Divisions, one of which, under the name of ‘Her Majesty’s High Court of Justice,’ shall have and exercise original jurisdiction.
† b. The persons administering the law; a judicial assembly, court of justice. Obs. (In early quots. difficult to separate from pl. of sense 8.)
a. 1300. Cursor M., 14855. If ani man war tan for oght He suld before iustijs [v.rr. iustice, iustis] be broght.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 58. Þerfor was þe dome gyuen þorgh þe Iustise, To exile þe erle Godwyn.
c. 1400. Ywaine & Gaw., 3446. It es the assyse, Whils sityng es of the iustise.
1529. Rastell, Pastyme, Hist. Brit. (1811), 222. There was a solempne justyce in Smythfylde where were present ye kynge of Englande [etc.].
1654. Sir E. Nicholas, in N. Papers (Camden), II. 85. Touching the proceedings against the Brasilians and particularly such as were of the high justice there.
† c. Judicial authority, jurisdiction. Obs.
c. 1450. Merlin, 575. The xix kynges … comaunded alle hem that were vnther theire Iustice.
1617. Moryson, Itin., III. 205. Not onely the free Cities of the Empire have the priviledge of the Sword, or capitall Iustice granted to them.
d. In colloq. phrases, as Jedwood or Jeddart (= Jedburgh) justice, trial after execution. Similarly † Cupar justice. Justices’ justice, an ironical expression for the kind of justice administered by petty magistrates, esp. when marked by disproportionate severity.
1706. A. Shields, Enq. Ch. Commun., Pref. 8. Guilty of Couper Justice and Jedburgh Law as the proverb is.
1802. Scott, Minstr. Scot. Border, Pref. (1869), 27. The memory of Dunbar’s legal proceedings at Jedburgh, are preserved in the proverbial phrase, ‘Jeddart Justice,’ which signifies trial after execution. Ibid. (1828), F. M. Perth, xxxii. We will have Jedwood justice—hang in haste and try at leisure.
1831. Examiner, 18 Dec., 802/2. [An example of] Justices’ Justice.
1867. Miss Braddon, Aur. Floyd, xvi. Servants’-hall justice all the world over.
1879. Farrar, St. Paul (1883), 357. The ‘justice’s justice’ of the Vibiuses and Floruses.
† 6. Infliction of punishment, legal vengeance on an offender; esp. capital punishment; execution. To do justice on or upon (of), to punish, esp. by death. Obs.
[1137–54: see 4.]
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 7036. Blamed of any vyce, Of whiche men shulden doon Iustyce.
c. 1477. Caxton, Jason, 78. He sente to Zethephius that he sholde do iustice on his seruauntes. Ibid. (1489), Sonnes of Aymon, 584. Lete vs be drowned, hanged, or drawen, or what iustyse ye wylle.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. ccxxx. 310. Bycause of the marueylous cruell iustyece that he had done.
a. 1625. Fletcher, Bloody Brother, III. i. Rob. Take his head Off with a Sword. Bel. … ’Tis the best Of all thy damned justices.
[1876. Freeman, Norm. Conq., V. xxiv. 520. Justice … in the special sense of heavy and speedy vengeance on offenders … was … far more on men’s lips than it had been in the elder day.]
† b. A place or instrument of execution; a gallows. Obs.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, VII. 30. Thar ordand thai thir lordis suld be slayne: A justice maid, quhilk wes of mekill mayne.
1484. Caxton, Fables of Æsop, VI. xiv. As men ledde hym to the Iustyce, his moder folowed hym and wepte sore.
7. Personified, esp. in sense 4: often represented in art as a goddess holding balanced scales or a sword, sometimes also with veiled eyes, betokening impartiality. (= L. Justitia.)
1599. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., V. ii. 102. You are right Iustice, and you weigh this well: Therefore still beare the Ballance, and the Sword.
1629. Milton, Morn. Nativity, 141. Yea, Truth and Justice then Will down return to men, Orbed in a rainbow.
1784. Cowper, Task, IV. 683. Conducting trade At the sword’s point, and dyeing the white robe Of innocent commercial justice red.
1872. Swinburne, Ess. & Stud. (1875), 28. He called upon justice by her other name of mercy; he claimed for all alike the equity of compassion.
III. An administrator of justice.
The name Justitia was applied (in the 11th cent.) in a general way to persons charged with the administration of the law, esp. to the sheriffs; it was subsequently limited to the president or one of the members of the Curia Regis, out of which the courts of King’s Bench, Common Pleas, and Exchequer were developed. These judges were specifically denominated justices itinerant, in eyre, of assize, of oyer and terminer, of jail delivery, etc.: see these words. In the Court of Exchequer (which had a peculiar history) they were termed barons.
8. generally. A judicial officer; a judge; a magistrate.
[c. 1172. Vie de St. Thom., 46. Et quant il s’en parte de la cambre de rei Justices et baruns, tel que numer ne dei, L’escrierent en haut a hu et a desrei.
1188. Glanvill, VI. vii. Pone coram me vel iusticiis meis … loquelam quae est in comitatu tuo inter A. et N.]
c. 1200. Vices & Virtues, 105. Iusticia þat is rihtwisnesse…. Hie awh wel to bene iustise inne godes temple.
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., I. 37/111. Abiatar þat þo was Iustise, luþur inovȝ.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 1416. Pilatus he sende þuder hor Iustise to be þere Vorto holde hom harde inou.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 4617. Stiward of al mi kingrik Sal þou be made and hei iustis.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 877. Who Ioyned þe be Iostyse our iapez to blame.
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 3817. Alle … prayede god, þe heȝe iustys, Scholde scheld him fram ys enymys.
c. 1485. E. Eng. Misc. (Warton Club), 29. To ȝeyf aconthis at the laste, Befor the most feyrful Justyse.
1611. Bible, 1 Esdras viii. 23. Thou, Esdras, according to the wisedome of God, ordaine iudges, and iustices, that they may iudge in all Syria and Phenice.
1685. Baxter, Paraphr. N. T., Acts xiii. 15. Thus were their Rulers like Church-Justices.
9. spec. In Great Britain and the United States: A member of the judicature. a. A judge presiding over or belonging to one of the superior courts, spec., in England, one of the courts of King’s Bench, Common Pleas, and Exchequer; since the consolidation of the courts in 1875, a member of the Supreme Court of Judicature; formerly applied also to various officers exercising special judicial functions, as the commissioners who governed Ireland during the absence of the Lord Lieutenant or the vacancy of that office.
High Justice (in quot.2 1297) = JUSTICIAR 1. Chief Justice or Lord Chief Justice, formerly, the title of the judges presiding over each of the courts of King’s Bench and of Common Pleas; both offices are now merged under the title of Lord Chief Justice of England. The judges of the Court of Appeal are called Lords Justices, and have the style of Right Honourable; a judge of the High Court of Justice is called Mr. Justice, and has the style of Honourable. In the United States Chief Justice is the designation of the presiding judge in the U. S. Supreme Court, and in the supreme court of each state. So in the British Colonies. See also JUSTICE-CLERK, JUSTICE-GENERAL.
[1276. Act 4 Edw. I., Acorde est … que Iustices ailent parmi la terre, a enquere e oier et terminer les pleintes e les quereles de trespas.]
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 10201. Þe bissopes … amansede vaste Alle þat suich dede dude, king & quene boþe, & hor Iustizes ek. Ibid., 10754. Sire steuene of segraue was imad þo hei iustise In sire hubertes stude de boru.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. III. 319. Al shal be but one courte, And one baroun be iustice.
a. 1400. in Eng. Gilds (1870), 361. Þe wryt þat me pledeth in þe citee by-fore Justyces.
1556. Chron. Gr. Friars (Camden), 8. That same nyght was browte in sir Roger Chamle cheffe justes of the kynges bench, sir Edwarde Montageu cheffe justys of the comyn place.
1586. A. Day, Eng. Secretary, I. (1625), 33. The Lord chiefe Justice of England in the time of King Henry the fourth, who was so strictly bent to the observation of justice.
1681. Luttrell, Brief Rel., 11 May. The lord chief justice Pemberton told him, That … there were three of them, (Mr. justice Jones, Mr. justice Raymond, and my self) of opinion that his plea should be over-ruled.
a. 1734. North, Life Ld. Guildford (1825), I. 196. He was advanced to the post of Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas. Ibid., 312. This Sir William Scroggs was made Lord Chief Justice of the King’s Bench, while his Lordship sat in the Common Pleas.
1873. Act 36 & 37 Vict., c. 66 § 5. The several Puisne Justices of the Courts of Queen’s Bench and Common Pleas respectively. Ibid., § 6. The ordinary and additional Judges of the Court of Appeal shall be styled Lord Justices of Appeal.
1883. Wharton’s Law-Lex. (ed. 7), 146/1. In 1881, after the promotion of Lord Chief Justice Coleridge to the office of Lord Chief Justice of England, the office [of Chief Justice of the Common Pleas] was abolished … under s. 31 of the Jud. Act 1873, and merged in that of Lord Chief Justice of England.
1890. Gross, Gild Merch., II. 16. The burgesses of Beaumaris were summoned before the Justices Itinerant.
fig. 1622. Bp. Hall, Serm., v. 129. Every man makes himself a Justice Itinerant, and passeth sentence of all that comes before him.
1633. Earl Manch., Al Mondo (1636), 79. Thy conscience is a Justice Itinerant with thee.
b. A justice of the peace (see next) or other inferior magistrate; esp. in pl. the Justices.
1586. A. Day, Eng. Secretary, II. (1625), 10. Being … brought before a Justice upon suspition of his wretched living.
1598. Shaks., Merry W., II. iii. 49. Though wee are Iustices, and Doctors, and Church-men … wee haue some salt of our youth.
1599. B. Jonson, Ev. Man out of Hum., V. ii. A Kinsman of Iustice Silence.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, II. vi. Much less would have satisfied a bench of justices on an order of bastardy.
1771. Smollett, Humph. Cl., 12 June. The house was visited by a constable … with a warrant from Justice Buzzard to search the box of Humphry Clinker.
1867. Act 29 & 30 Vict., c. 118 § 15. Where a child apparently under the age of twelve years is charged before two Justices or a Magistrate.
10. Justice of the Peace († Justice of peace): an inferior magistrate appointed to preserve the peace in a county, town, or other district, and discharge other local magisterial functions. Abbreviated J.P. Hence † Justice-of-peaceship.
Justices of the peace were instituted in England in 1327, and are appointed by the sovereign’s special commission, directing them, jointly and severally, to keep the peace in the area named. Their principal duties consist in committing offenders to trial before a judge and jury when satisfied that there is a primâ facie case against them, convicting and punishing summarily in minor causes, granting licenses, and acting, if County Justices, as judges at Quarter Sessions. See also QUORUM.
[1320. Rolls Parlt., I. 379/1. Loco Thome Yngglesthorp nuper assignati Justic. Pacis.
1363. Act 37 Edw. III., c. 12. En les commissionz des iustices de le peace.]
1439. Rolls Parlt., V. 33/1. Yat Justicez of yee Pees haue power to enquer therof.
1583. Stubbes, Anat. Abus., II. (1882), 106. Maye they bee Iustices of peace, Iustices of Quoram, Iustices of Assises.
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., III. ii. 64. I am Robert Shallow … a poore Esquire of this Countie, and one of the Kings Iustices of the Peace.
a. 1613. Overbury, Characters, Meere Common Lawyer, Wks. (1856), 86. The stating him in a Justice of peace-ship.
1662–3. Pepys, Diary, 17 March. Our patent to be Justices of the Peace in the City.
1752. Fielding, Amelia, I. ii. The clerk … doubted whether a justice of peace had any such power.
1824. Scott, St. Ronan’s, xxxii. You will answer the purpose a great deal better … provided you are a justice of peace.
1898. J. K. Jerome, Sec. Thoughts, 266. The local J. P. of the period.
IV. Phrases and combinations.
11. Phrase. To do justice to (a person or thing): a. to render (one) what is his due, or vindicate his just claims; to treat (one) fairly by acknowledging his merits or the like; hence, To treat (a subject or thing) in a manner showing due appreciation, to deal with (it) as is right or fitting. To do oneself justice, to perform something one has to do in a manner worthy of one’s abilities.
1679. Dryden, Troilus & Cr., Pref. I cannot leave this subject before I do justice to that Divine Poet by giving you one of his passionate descriptions.
1715. De Foe, Fam. Instruct., II. i. (1841), I. 171. You must do your Master justice now: for, if I mistake not, you wrong him very much by your own account.
1792. Anecd. W. Pitt, III. xxxix. 44. Let me do justice to a man, whose character and conduct have been infamously traduced.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., iv. I. 463. James, to do him justice, would gladly have found out a third way.
1855. Prescott, Philip II., II. vii. I. 216. The abstract here given does no justice to the document.
1870. E. Peacock, Ralf Skirl., II. 114. To the food he did ample justice.
Mod. Being nervous in the course of his speech, he did not do himself justice.
† b. To pledge in drinking. Obs.
1604. Shaks., Oth., II. iii. 90. Cas. To the health of our Generall. Mon. I am for it Lieutenant: and Ile do you Iustice.
a. 1700. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v., I’ll do you Justice Sir, I will Pledge you.
12. attrib. and Comb.: attrib., as justice-box, -business, -day, -hall, -height, -hill, -parson, -room; objective, etc., as justice-maker; justice-dealing, -like, -loving, -proof, -slighting adjs.; justice-broker, a magistrate who ‘sells’ justice; † justice-court, a court of justice; spec. the Court of Justiciary; justice-eyre (-air): see EYRE; justice-seat, seat of justice, judgment-seat; spec. (see quot. 1641.)
1820. T. Mitchell, Aristoph., I. 53. Their whole soul lodged In the *justice-box, and ne’er so pleased … As when they give some criminal a gripe.
1691. Dryden, Amphitryon, IV. i. 42. The Devil take all *Justice-brokers.
1848. Thackeray, Van. Fair, xlv. Plunged in *justice-business.
1528. Sc. Acts Jas. V. (1597), § 7. In the justice aires, or *justice courts.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., I. 53. The toune of Brichine … quhair is ane … Justice court haldne.
a. 1649. Drumm. of Hawth., Hist. Jas. V., Wks. (1711), 86. Warden of the east marches, keeping the days of truce and justice-courts.
1616. J. Lane, Contn. Sqr.’s T., VIII. 348. As if your last howl weare not *iustice day.
1835. Thirlwall, Greece, I. iv. 80. The *justice-dealing kings, Dorus and Xuthus.
c. 1500. Adam Bel, 65. She went vnto the *iustice hall.
a. 1613. Overbury, Characters, Elder Brother, Wks. (1856), 67. His ambition flies *justice-height.
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., V. i. 76. Turn’d into a *Iustice-like Seruingman.
1845. Miall, in Nonconf., V. 197. Impartial and *justice-loving men.
1678. Cudworth, Intell. Syst., I. v. 893 (Contents). These *Justice-makers … pretend to derive their factitious Justice from Pacts and Covenants.
1824. Syd. Smith, Wks. (1859), II. 48/2. The settlers take the law into their own hands, and give notice to a *justice-proof delinquent to quit the territory.
1809. Sporting Mag., XXXIII. 92. The *justice-room in the Bail of Lincoln.
1548. R. Hutten, Sum of Diuinitie, R viij b. We must al appeare before the *iustice seate of Christe.
1641. Termes de la Ley, 193 b. Iustice seat is the highest Court that is held in a Forest, and it is alwayes held before the Lord chiefe Iustice in Eyre of the Forest.
1848. Wharton, Law Lex., s.v. Forest Courts, The court of justice-seat … was a court of record; but since the Revolution in 1688, the forest laws have fallen into total disuse.
1856. Kane, Arct. Expl., II. xii. 128. The idlers … gather about the justice-seat.
