■ adjective
1》 morally good, justified, or acceptable.
2》 factually correct.
↘most appropriate.
↘socially fashionable or important.
3》 in a satisfactory, sound, or normal state or condition.
4》 on, towards, or relating to the side of a human body or of a thing which is to the east when the person or thing is facing north.
5》 Brit. informal complete; absolute.
6》 relating to a ~-wing person or group.
■ adverb
1》 to the furthest or most complete extent or degree.
↘exactly; directly.
↘ informal immediately.
↘ dialect or archaic very.
2》 correctly.
↘satisfactorily.
3》 on or to the ~ side.
■ noun
1》 that which is morally ~.
2》 a moral or legal entitlement to have or do something.
↘( ~s ) the authority to perform, publish, or film a particular work or event.
3》 ( the ~ ) the ~-hand part, side, or direction.
↘a ~ turn.
↘a person's ~ fist, or a blow given with it.
4》 (often the Right ) [treated as sing. or plural ] a political party or other group favouring conservative views.
■ verb
1》 restore to a normal or up~ position.
↘restore to a normal or correct condition.
2》 redress or rectify.
↘ archaic compensate.
■ exclamation informal indicating agreement or acknowledging a statement or order.
Phrases
bang (or N. Amer. dead ) to ~s informal (of a criminal) with positive proof of guilt.
be in the ~ be justified in one's views or actions.
by ~s if things were fair or correct.
do ~ by treat fairly.
in one's own ~ as a result of one's own claims, qualifications, or efforts.
( as ) of ~ (or by ~) due to a moral or legal claim or entitlement.
put (or set ) someone ~ tell someone the true facts.
put (or set ) something to ~s restore something to its correct state.
( as ) ~ as rain informal completely well or healthy.
on the ~ side of on the safe, appropriate, or desirable side of.
↘in a position to be viewed with favour by.
↘somewhat less than (a specified age): she's on the ~ side of forty.
~ (or straight ) away (or informal off) immediately.
~ on informal expressing approval or encouragement.
a ~ one Brit. informal a foolish person.
the ~ stuff the necessary qualities for a given job.
she's (or she'll be ) ~ Austral./NZ informal don't worry.
Derivatives
~able adjective
~er noun
~ish adjective
~most adjective
~ness noun
~ward adjective & adverb
~wards adverb
Origin
OE riht (adjective andnoun), rihtan (v.), rihte (adverb), of Gmc origin; related to L. rectus 'ruled'.