源etymfun
About

Etymology data from Wiktionary via Wiktextract (CC BY-SA 4.0). Chinese character data from the 說文解字, the Taiwan MOE 國語辭典簡編本 (CC BY-ND 3.0 TW) and HSK/TOCFL lists.

Explanations are written by a local model (gemma4) and only published after a verification pass against the cited sources. How it works.

English

just

/d͡ʒʌst/
Factually right, correct; factual.

    Etymology graph

    • inherited
    • borrowed
    • derived
    • parts
    • meaning component
    • sound component
    • related
    React Flow
    Press enter or space to select a node. You can then use the arrow keys to move the node around. Press delete to remove it and escape to cancel.
    Press enter or space to select an edge. You can then press delete to remove it or escape to cancel.

    Click a node to zoom in · double-click to open it

    Origin

    Etymology 1

    Archaic Latin *iowos, *iowez-

    Proto-Indo-European *-tós

    Proto-Italic *-tos

    Archaic Latin -tus

    Archaic Latin iovestos

    Latin iūstus

    Old French justebor.

    Middle English juste

    English just

    From Middle English juste, from Old French juste, from Latin iūstus (“just, lawful, rightful, true, due, proper, moderate”), from Proto-Italic *jowestos, related to Latin iūs (“law, right”); ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂yew-. Compare Scots juist (“just”), Saterland Frisian juust (“just”), West Frisian just (“just”), Dutch juist (“just”), German Low German jüst (“jüst”), German just (“just”), Danish just (“just”), Swedish just (“just”). Doublet of giusto.

    Etymology 2

    Variation of joust, presumably ultimately from Latin iuxta (“near, besides”).

    From Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.

    Lineage

    • inheritedMiddle Englishjuste
      • borrowedOld Frenchjuste
        • inheritedLatiniūstus “just”
          • derivedArchaic Latiniovestos
            • partArchaic Latin-tus
              • inheritedProto-Italic*-tos
          • partLatiniūs “law”
            • inheritedProto-Indo-European*yéwHs “soup, broth”
            • inheritedProto-Italic*jowos
          • suffixLatin-tus “action noun-forming suffix”
            • inheritedProto-Italic*-tus
            • inheritedProto-Indo-European*-tuHts
    • rootProto-Indo-European*h₂yew- “(adjective) right; straight; upright; (noun) justice; law; right”
    • derived (ultimately)Latiniuxtā “near”

    Related: English giusto (doublet), Scots juist, Saterland Frisian juust, West Frisian just, Dutch juist, German Low German jüst, German just, Danish just, Swedish just

    Words built on it: just enough

    Meanings

    adj
    1. Factually right, correct; factual.
    2. Rationally right, correct.
    3. Morally right; upright, righteous, equitable; fair.
    4. Proper, adequate.
    adv
    1. Only, simply, merely.
    2. Introduces a disappointing or surprising outcome that renders futile something previously mentioned.
    3. Used to reduce the force of an imperative; simply.
    4. Used to increase the force of an imperative; simply, without questioning.
    5. Used to convey a less serious or formal tone.
    6. Absolutely, positively.
    intj
    1. Expressing dismay or discontent.
    noun
    1. A joust, tournament.

    Sources

    • Wiktionary (via Wiktextract / kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0
    • Wiktionary: just