Verb

To establish the identity of someone or something.

*

(biology) To establish the taxonomic classification of an organism.

*

To equate or make the same; to unite or combine into one.

* D. Ramsay

Every precaution is taken to identify the interests of the people and of the rulers.

* Burke

Let us identify , let us incorporate ourselves with the people.

(reflexive) To have a strong affinity (with); to feel oneself to be modelled on or connected to.

* 1999 , Joyce Crick, translating Sigmund Freud, The Interpretation of Dreams , Oxford 2008, p. 117:

The dream is given a new interpretation if in her dream she means not herself but her friend, if she has put herself in the place of her friend, or, as we may say, she has identified herself with her.

To associate oneself with some group.

*

To claim an identity; to describe oneself as a member of a group; to assert the use of a particular term to describe oneself.

* {{quote-magazine

, year=2010 , author= , title=Youth Who Self-Identify as Gay, Lesbian or Bisexual at Higher Suicide Risk, Say Researchers , date=Feb. 6, 2010 , magazine=Science Daily citation , passage="The main message is that it's the interface between individuals and society that causes students who identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual the most distress," said study first author Yue Zhao. }}

Verb

To provide an acceptable explanation for.

How can you justify spending so much money on clothes?

Paying too much for car insurance is not justified .

To be a good, acceptable reason for; warrant.

Nothing can justify your rude behaviour last night.

* E. Everett

Unless the oppression is so extreme as to justify' revolution, it would not ' justify the evil of breaking up a government.

To arrange (text) on a page or a computer screen such that the left and right ends of all lines within paragraphs are aligned.

The text will look better justified .

To absolve, and declare to be free of blame or sin

* Shakespeare

I cannot justify whom the law condemns.

* Bible, Acts xiii. 39

By him all that believe are justified' from all things, from which ye could not be ' justified by the law of Moses.

To prove; to ratify; to confirm.

(Shakespeare)