right
right (rīt)
adjective
- Obsolete not curved; straight: now only in mathematics a right line
- formed by, or with reference to, a straight line or plane perpendicular to a base a right angle
- having the axis perpendicular to the base a right cylinder
- in accordance with justice, law, morality, etc.; upright; virtuous right conduct
- in accordance with fact, reason, some set standard, etc.; correct; true the right answer
- correct in thought, statement, or action to be right in one's answer
- fitting; appropriate; suitable
- most convenient or favorable
- reputable; approved she associates with the right people
- designating the side, surface, etc. meant to be seen; designating the finished, principal, or upper side or surface the right side of cloth
- sound; normal in one's right mind
- mentally sound or normal; sane not quite right
- having sound health or good spirits
- in a satisfactory condition, or in good order to make things right again
- designating or of that side of one's body which is toward the east when one faces north, the side of the more-used hand in most people
- designating or of the corresponding side of anything
- closer to the right side of a person directly before and facing the thing mentioned or understood the top right drawer of a desk
- of the side or bank of a river on the right of a person facing downstream
- of the political right; conservative or reactionary
- Archaic not spurious or sham; genuine; real
Etymology: ME < OE riht, straight, direct, right, akin to Ger recht < IE base *reĝ-, straight, stretch out, put in order > rich, reckon, L regere, to rule, rex, king, regula, a rule
noun
- what is right, or just, lawful, morally good, proper, correct, etc.
- that which a person has a just claim to; power, privilege, etc. that belongs to a person by law, nature, or tradition the right of free speech
- an interest in property, real or intangible
- the true or correct report, as of a happening: with the
- all or part of the right side
- what is on the right side
- a direction or location on the right side: often with the
- a turn toward the right side take a right at the fork
- ☆ Baseball right field
- Boxing
- the right hand
- a blow delivered with the right hand
- Finance
- the privilege given to a company's stockholders of buying shares in a new issue of stock, usually at a price below the current market price
- the negotiable certificate indicating this privilege
- Politics a conservative or reactionary position, esp. one varying from moderate capitalism to fascism, or a party or group advocating this: often with the: from the position of the seats occupied in some European legislatures
adverb
- in a straight line; straight; directly go right home
- properly; fittingly
- favorably, conveniently, or well
- completely; thoroughly soaked right through his coat
- exactly; precisely right here, right now
- ☆ without pause or delay; immediately come right down
- according to law, justice, etc.; in an upright way
- correctly or accurately
- on or toward the right hand or side
- very; extremely [to know something right well]: informal except in certain titles the right honorable, the right reverend
Etymology: ME < OE rihte
interjection
transitive verb
- to put in or restore to an upright or proper position to right a capsized boat
- to correct; make conform with fact, etc.
- to put in order; set right to right a room
- to do justice to (a person); make amends to
- to make amends for (a wrong, etc.); redress or avenge
intransitive verb
in one's own right
in the right
right on!
☆to rights
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
| Topic | Replies | Latest Post |
|---|---|---|
| "And I" is always right!!! | 28 | 2 days ago |
| Is this the right room for an argument? | 17 | 1 month ago |
| I know I'm right -- I just can't think of WHY I'm right | 18 | 2 months ago |
| Which is right? | 30 | 5 months ago |
| Reading right-to-left - word for? | 29 | 5 years ago |
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