n.
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English riht, from riht, adjective
Date: before 12th century
1 : qualities (as adherence to duty or obedience to lawful authority) that together constitute the ideal of moral propriety or merit moral approval
2 : something to which one has a just claim: as a : the power or privilege to which one is justly entitled <voting right s > <his right to decide> b (1) : the interest that one has in a piece of property ― often used in plural <mineral right s > (2) plural : the property interest possessed under law or custom and agreement in an intangible thing especially of a literary and artistic nature <film right s of the novel>
3 : something that one may properly claim as due <knowing the truth is her right >
4 : the cause of truth or justice
5 a : RIGHT HAND 1A also : a blow struck with this hand <gave him a hard right on the jaw> b : the location or direction of the right side <woods on his right > c : the part on the right side d : RIGHT FIELD e : a turn to the right <take a right at the stop sign>
6 a : the true account or correct interpretation b : the quality or state of being factually correct
7 often capitalized a : the part of a legislative chamber located to the right of the presiding officer b : the members of a continental European legislative body occupying the right as a result of holding more conservative political views than other members
8 a often capitalized : individuals professing support of the established order and favoring traditional attitudes and practices and conservative governmental policies b often capitalized : a conservative position
9 a : a privilege given stockholders to subscribe pro rata to a new issue of securities generally below market price b : the negotiable certificate evidencing such privilege ― usually used in plural
– right · most \ - ˌ m ō st \ adjective
– by rights also by all rights : with reason or justice : PROPERLY
– in one's own right : by virtue of one's own qualifications or properties
– of right
1 : as an absolute right
2 : legally or morally exactable
– to rights : into proper order