right to lifen.adj.
/ˌrʌɪt tᵿ ˈlʌɪf/, U.S. /ˌraɪt tə ˈlaɪf/ A. n.
In the context of opposition to induced abortion: the right of a fetus to be carried to term.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > biology > biological processes > procreation or reproduction > abortion > [noun] > anti-abortionism
right to life1867
anti-abortionism1976
1867 St. Louis Med. & Surg. Jrnl. 4 528 Has not the unborn child as good a right to life as the born child?
1912 Jrnl. Indiana State Med. Assoc. 5 508/2 First, we must admit that the unborn child is entitled to certain rights. It has the right to life.
1962 Observer 26 Aug. 24/6 Why should any healthy child be denied the right to life by destroying it before it can lift a voice in protest?
1990 G. Will Suddenly v. viii. 316 The unborn child has a fundamental right to life which cannot be infringed.
2007 M. C. Taylor After God viii. 352 The banner under which opponents of Roe v. Wade rally is the now familiar slogan ‘Right to Life’.
B. adj.
Of, relating to, or expressing opposition to the right to abort the unborn fetus; esp. designating a person who or organization which campaigns against induced abortion. Cf. pro-life adj. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > source or principle of life > [adjective] > in favour of maintenance of
pro-life1960
right to life1970
anti-choice1978
society > society and the community > social attitudes > [adjective] > discriminatory or inegalitarian > against abortion
right to life1970
1970 Tri-City Herald (Washington) 11 Oct. 15/2 He is a member of the U.S. Patent Bar and a leader in the local ‘Right to Life’ movement since 1968.
1973 A. E. Wilkerson Rights of Children 312 It is doubtful that in the right-to-life controversy the rights of the unborn child will be inviolate.
1984 National Jrnl. (U.S.) 4 Aug. 1498/2 ‘I have become the object of an inexplicable and vicious campaign,’ [he]..wrote, citing right-to-life pamphlets accusing him of being ‘the single-most dangerous antilife official in the Reagan Administration’.
1997 Calif. Lawyer July 40/1 If the decision comes out the other way, expect to see a serious effort by right-to-life forces to unseat the offending justices.
Derivatives
ˌright-to-ˈlifer n. an opponent of the legal right to abortion.
ΚΠ
1972 N.Y. Mag. 29 May 8/3 The determination and organizational abilities of the Right-to-Lifers..were extraordinary.
1977 Time 25 July 2/3 If the Government provided its citizens with alternative birth control methods (free of charge), there would be fewer abortions. Even the right-to-lifers would like that.
2005 J. Weiner Goodnight Nobody xviii. 158 Laura Lynn was a major right-to-lifer—oh, excuse me, she was an advocate for preborn Americans.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2010; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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