ˈrektəˌfī transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English rectifien, from Middle French rectifier, from Medieval Latin rectificare, from Latin rectus straight, right + -ificare -ify — more at right
1.
a. : to make or set right (as a faculty position or state) : remedy
a situation that can be rectified only by … evidence with which we can relate the past to the present — A.H.Shroeder
b. : to make good (as a mistake or omission) : amend
and would do your best to rectify the mischief — George Meredith
mistakes can be rectified by care and industry — Bertrand Russell
2.
a. : to restore to a healthy state
set about cutting down the contracted hoofs and rectifying the horny pad — Gerald Beaumont
b. : to restore to a condition previously considered desirable
the increase would not rectify unbalanced world trade — Time
3.
a. : to reform from erroneous or evil ways
must rectify his life if he would be saved
b. obsolete : to free from mistaken ideas or errors
a man has frequent opportunities of … rectifying the prejudiced — Joseph Addison
4. : to purify especially by repeated or fractional distillation sometimes with the addition of flavoring substances
5. : to correct by removing errors or mistakes
it is important to rectify the opinion — Curt Stern
compile a better set of astronomical tables, rectify the calendar — H.J.J.Winter
6.
a. : to set right by adjustment or calculation
b. : to determine the length of (an arc of a curve)
7. : to bring into line : straighten
rectifying the guttering after that gale — Adrian Bell
8. : to make (an alternating current) unidirectional
Synonyms: see correct