The spelling of the phrase "dost justice" may seem unusual, but it is in fact an archaic form of the verb "do" in the second person singular present tense, and "justice" as a noun. The IPA phonetic transcription of "dost" is /dʌst/, which is pronounced with a short vowel sound in the first syllable and a voiced "st" sound at the end. Meanwhile, "justice" is spelled phonetically as /ˈdʒʌstɪs/, with the emphasis on the first syllable and a long "u" sound in the second.
The phrase "dost justice" is an archaic form of expression derived from Middle English. It combines the verb "dost," which is the second person singular present tense of "do," and the noun "justice." In this context, "dost" is an old-fashioned term commonly used during the Middle English period to indicate an action being done or implied by the second person singular pronoun "thou." Justice, on the other hand, refers to the concept of fairness, impartiality, or the quality of being just.
When combined, "dost justice" can be understood as an outdated way of conveying that someone is performing an action related to the administration of justice or ensuring fairness. It suggests that the individual in question is taking the necessary steps or measures to uphold fairness and morality, particularly in the context of legal affairs or moral obligations.
While the phrase may not be commonly used in contemporary English, its definition encapsulates the notion of actively engaging in actions that promote righteousness and impartiality. Essentially, "dost justice" embodies both a moral and legal imperative to act in accordance with the principles of rightness and fairness.
The phrase "dost justice" does not have a specific etymology as it is a combination of two words: "dost" and "justice", both of which have their own individual etymologies.
1. Dost: It is the second person singular present tense form of the verb "do", which comes from the Old English word "dōn". The word has roots in Proto-Germanic and can be traced back to Proto-Indo-European. It has variations in different Germanic languages, such as German "tust" and Dutch "doet".
2. Justice: The word "justice" is derived from the Old French word "justise", which ultimately came from the Latin word "justitia". "Justitia" is formed from the Latin word "jus" meaning "law" or "right".