[right] adj [ME, fr. OE riht; akin to OHG reht right, L rectus straight, right, regere to lead straight, direct, rule, rogare to ask, Gk oregein to stretch out] (bef. 12c) 1: righteous, upright
2: being in accordance with what is just, good, or proper "~ conduct" 3 a: agreeable to a standard b: conforming to facts or truth: correct "the ~ answer"
4: suitable, appropriate "the ~ man for the job"
5: straight "a ~ line"
6: genuine, real
7. a: of, relating to, situated on, or being the side of the body which is away from the heart and on which the hand is stronger in most people b: located nearer to the right hand than to the left c: located to the right of an observer facing the object specified or directed as the right arm would point when raised out to the side d (1): located on the right of an observer facing in the same direction as the object specified "stage ~" (2): located on the right when facing downstream "the ~ bank of a river" 8: having the axis perpendicular to the base "~ cone" 9: of, relating to, or constituting the principal or more prominent side of an object "made sure the socks were ~ side out" 10: acting or judging in accordance with truth or fact "time proved her ~" 11 a: being in good physical or mental health or order "not in his ~ mind" b: being in a correct or proper state "put things ~" 12: most favorable or desired: preferable; also: socially acceptable "knew all the ~ people" 13 often cap: of, adhering to, or constituted by the Right esp. in politics syn see correct -- right.ness n
[2]right n [ME, fr. OE riht, fr. riht, adj.] (bef. 12c) 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 b (1): the interest that one has in a piece of property--often used in pl. "mineral ~s" (2) pl: the property interest possessed under law or custom and agreement in an intangible thing esp. of a literary and artistic nature "film ~s of the novel"
3: something that one may properly claim as due
4: the cause of truth or justice
5. a: right hand 1a; also: a blow struck with this hand "gave him a hard ~ on the jaw" b: the location or direction of the right side "woods on his ~" c: the part on the right side d: right field
6. a: the true account or correct interpretation b: the quality or state of being factually correct
7. often cap 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 cap: individuals sometimes professing opposition to change in the established order and favoring traditional attitudes and practices and sometimes advocating the forced establishment of an authoritarian order (as in government) b often cap: 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--usu. used in pl. -- right.most adj -- by 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 [3]right adv (bef. 12c) 1: according to right "live ~"
2: in the exact location, position, or moment: precisely "~ at his fingertips" "quit ~ then and there"
3: in a suitable, proper, or desired manner "knew he wasn't doing it ~"
4: in a direct line, course, or manner: directly, straight "go ~ home" "came ~ out and said it"
5: according to fact or truth: truly "guessed ~"
6. a: all the way "windows ~ to the floor" b: in a complete manner "felt ~ at home" 7: without delay: immediately "~ after lunch" 8: to a great degree: very "a ~ pleasant day" 9: on or to the right "looked left and ~" [4]right vt (bef. 12c) 1 a: to do justice to: redress the injuries of "so just is God to ~ the innocent --Shak." b: justify, vindicate "felt the need to ~ himself in court"
2: avenge "vows to ~ the injustice done to his family" 3 a: to adjust or restore to the proper state or condition "~ the economy" b: to bring or restore to an upright position "~ a capsized boat" ~ vi: to become upright -- right.er n