just / jəst/ • adj. based on or behaving according to what is morally right and fair: a just and democratic society fighting for a just cause. ∎  (of treatment) deserved or appropriate in the circumstances: we all get our just deserts. ∎  (of an opinion or appraisal) well founded; justifiable: these simplistic approaches have been the subject of just criticism.• adv. 1. exactly: that's just what I need you're a human being, just like everyone else conditions were just as bad you can have it, but not just yet. ∎  exactly or almost exactly at this or that moment: she's just coming we were just finishing breakfast. 2. very recently; in the immediate past: I've just seen the local paper.3. barely; by a little: I got here just after nine inflation fell to just over 4 percent | I only just caught the train. 4. simply; only; no more than: they were just interested in making money. ∎  really; absolutely (used for emphasis): they're just great. ∎  used as a polite formula for giving permission or making a request: just help yourselves. ∎  possibly (used to indicate a slight chance of something happening or being true): it might just help. PHRASES: just about inf. almost exactly; nearly: he can do just about anything.just as well a good or fortunate thing: it was just as well I didn't know at the time.just in case as a precaution.just a minute, moment, second, etc. used to ask someone to wait or pause for a short time. ∎  used to interrupt someone, esp. in protest or disagreement.just now1. at this moment: it's pretty hectic just now. 2. a little time ago: she was talking to me just now.just the same nevertheless: I put on my raincoat and big straw hat. But we got soaked just the same.just so1. arranged or done very neatly and carefully: polishing the furniture and making everything just so. 2. Brit., formal used to express agreement.DERIVATIVES: just·ly adv.just·ness n.

just be just before you're generous warning against indulgence or sentimentality; proverbial saying, mid 18th century.
just war in the Middle Ages, a debate among moral theologians on the circumstances in which participation in war by Christians could be justified led to St Thomas Aquinas's laying down three conditions which a just war must meet: it had to be authorized by the sovereign, the cause must be just, and those engaging in it must have the intention of advancing good or avoiding evil. In the 16th century a fourth condition was added by the Spanish theologian Francisco de Vitoria (d. 1546), saying that the war must be fought by ‘proper means’. The phrase is recorded in English from the late 15th century.

just righteous, fair; well-founded; proper, correct, †exact. XIV. — (O)F. juste — L. jūstus, f. jūs (cf. JURY).
Hence just adv. exactly, precisely XIV; precisely (now or then); not more than, barely XVII; not less than, quite XVIII.

JUST

Legally right; conformity with that which is lawful or fair.

Just cause for an action, for example, is a reason for a course of action that is based upon good faith.

just var. of JOUST.