rightfuladj.n.adv.
/ˈrʌɪtf(ᵿ)l/, U.S. /ˈraɪtf(ə)l/ A. adj.† 4. Straight; true. Cf. right adj. 1c. Obsolete.Chiefly in figurative contexts, qualifying way, path, etc.
1.
a. Of a person: disposed to do what is right; just, virtuous; = righteous adj. 1a. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > virtue > righteousness or rectitude > [adjective]
righteOE
righteouseOE
right-doingOE
rightfullOE
justc1384
rekenc1400
justfulc1425
upright1530
right-up1539
right-minded1574
principled1697
well-minded1824
unwrongful1876
lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) anno 1100 Eall þet þe Gode wæs lað & rihtfulle mannan, eall þet wæs gewunelic on þisan lande on his tyman.
c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 1606 (MED) So riȝtuol he was þat þo he adde an dede him sulf ydo Þat aȝen is lawes was..ne sparde him sulue noȝt.
c1390 (a1376) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Vernon) (1867) A. ix. 17 Seue siþes a day..sungeþ þe rihtful mon.
c1430 (c1380) G. Chaucer Parl. Fowls (Cambr. Gg.4.27) (1871) l. 55 Rightful folk schul gon aftyr they deye To heuene.
1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende 66/4 Thenne said Saul, I haue synned... Thou arte rightfuller than I am.
a1500 (?c1450) Merlin 636 (MED) The kynge is so good a man, and so right-full [Fr. li rois est si preudons], that he wolde it not suffre..that noon sholde do me that wronge.
?1530 J. Rastell Pastyme of People sig. Bi The moost ryghtful & indyfferent Iuge that euer was.
1567 W. Painter Palace of Pleasure II. xxiv. f. 216v But God which is a rightful iudge would not suffer hir wickednesse extend any further.
1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice iv. i. 298 Por. The Court awards it, and the law doth giue it. Iew. Most rightfull Iudge. View more context for this quotation
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Iuste,..incorrupt, rightfull, vpright, sincere.
1779 T. Wilkins Poems Divine & Moral 10 No more offend your rightful Judge supreme, Nor with your Tongues his mighty Works blaspheme.
1819 P. B. Shelley Cenci iii. i. 42 Mighty death! Thou double visaged shadow! Only judge! Rightfullest arbiter!
1973 K. Cragg Mind of Quran xi. 194 The rights of God rightly known and served, as the condition of a rightful humanity, might fairly claim to be a definition of Islam.
b. Of an action, event, etc.: conforming to or performed in accordance with what is right or just; morally good, fair. Cf. righteous adj. 1b. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > rightness or justice > [adjective]
righteOE
rightfula1225
skilful1340
veryc1440
justc1450
fair-minded1645
dextera1734
just-minded1825
square dinkum1888
fair dinkum1912
OE Homily (Otho C.i) in Anglo-Saxon Eng. 26 (1997) 220 Fram unrihtfullum spræ[cum].]
a1225 ( Rule St. Benet (Winteney) (1888) lxxiii.146 Þæt we habbað arwyrdnesse on þeawe odðe anȝinn of rihtfulle life [OE Corpus Cambr. angin godre drohtunge and godra þeawa arwyrðnesse].
c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 2876 (MED) Hii binome him is kinedom, & þat is a riȝuol dede.
c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 5391 King alfred..Lawes he made riȝtuolore [B.v.r. ryȝtfuller] & strengore þan er were.
c1350 Apocalypse St. John: A Version (Harl. 874) (1961) 120 (MED) Lorde & kyng of al þe werlde, þine wayes ben riȝtful & soþfast.
c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. Prol. 127 (MED) For þi riȝtful rewlyng be rewarded in heuene!
1440 J. Capgrave Life St. Norbert (1977) l. 630 Men schuld..drawe onto pees in al manere wyse, For dred of þat hye and rithfull iustyse.
1481 W. Caxton tr. Hist. Reynard Fox (1970) 96 The quarel that I haue is rightful.
a1500 ( J. Yonge tr. Secreta Secret. (Rawl.) (1898) 145 Hoppe is a ryghtfull tryste for a ryghtfull Werke.
c1515 Ld. Berners tr. Bk. Duke Huon of Burdeux (1882–7) lxxxi. 249 Let me haue ryghtfull and trewe iugement.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. xii. sig. M3 For truth is strong, her rightfull cause to plead.
1645 J. Milton Upon Circumcision in Poems 21 For we by rightfull doom remediles Were lost in death.
1694 M. Prior For New Year: To Sun 289 The smiling Hours, All that with Friendly care have guarded Patriots and Kings in Rightful Wars.
1717 E. Fenton tr. Homer Odyssey xi, in Poems on Several Occasions 108 Rightful and wise The Queen's Proposal is.
1778 L. Booker Highlanders 23 Their prince they honour'd, and for him they bled: Happy to bleed, in what they glorious deem'd, A rightful Cause.
1813 W. Scott Rokeby v. 240 He that sings the rightful cause.
1859 I. Taylor Logic in Theol. 201 Can it be rightful..to enact in India..that which was enacted for the Roman world?
1948 H. Maynard Smith Henry VIII & Reformation ii. vi. 396 There had been no litany of the saints, but in 1535 he inserted one to show his reverence for holy men and that it was rightful to ask for their prayers.
2.
a. Of a person: having a legal claim; legitimately entitled to a property, position, or status; holding by right or custom.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > legal right > [adjective]
righteOE
kindc1300
rightfulc1330
truec1384
righteous1391
lawfula1400
just?1435
legitimec1450
legitimatea1460
verya1466
justc1540
reable1581
sib1701
competent1765
c1330 (?a1300) Arthour & Merlin (Auch.) (1973) 2804 (MED) More & lasse..maden solempne bisecheinge Forto haue a riȝtful kinge.
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) vii. 4122 (MED) So were thei for everemo..Departed fro the rihtfull heir.
1430 in H. M. Flasdieck Mittelengl. Originalurkunden (1926) 94 (MED) The remayndre of hem to the rightfull heirs of the seid Erle.
a1500 (c1477) T. Norton Ordinal of Alchemy (BL Add.) (1975) 242 (MED) With his pride he myght set a-downe Rightful kingis & princis of renowne.
1533–4 Act 25 Hen. VIII c. 12 They..traytorously beleeued in their hartes, that the kinge..was no lenger rightfull king of this realme, in the reputacion of almightie god.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene ii. vii. sig. S3v But thou didst these goods bereaue From rightfull owner by vnrighteous lott.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 1 (1623) ii. v. 80 In this haughtie great attempt..to plant the rightfull Heire, I lost my Libertie. View more context for this quotation
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost v. 818 Every Soule in Heav'n Shall..Confess him rightful King. View more context for this quotation
1724 R. Welton Substance Christian Faith 215 A due obedience to our rightful governors.
1751 T. Smollett Peregrine Pickle IV. cxii. 296 He went directly, with a lawyer, to his house, before any cabal or conspiracy could be formed against the rightful heir.
1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. IV. xxi. 684 How a rightful and lawful possessor is to be distinguished from a possessor who has the exclusive right by law [etc.].
1886 R. L. Stevenson Kidnapped xiv. 129 That made a fortune of three pounds and four shillings, English money, for a lad, the rightful heir of an estate.
1910 P. W. Joyce Eng. as we speak it in Ireland xiii. 302 A colony from England or Scotland settled down or planted in former times in a district in Ireland from which the rightful old Irish owners were expelled.
1958 W. Willetts Chinese Art I. v. 312 Murdering her own daughter by the Emperor and causing the rightful Empress's hands and feet to be cut off.
1991 N.Y. Times Mag. 10 Nov. 86/3 She was registered as the rightful owner until 1983.
b. Of a legal claim or entitlement: legitimately claimed or held, lawful. Also in weakened use: claimed, held, or due by right, in accordance with reason or custom.
ΚΠ
c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. xiv. 291 (MED) Selde is any pore riche but of riȝtful heritage.
1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende 242 b/2 These ben the thynges that I leue to yow to possede by ryghtfull herytage.
a1500 (c1410) Dives & Pauper (Hunterian) (1980) ii. 178 (MED) Hoso occupye onyþing withoutyn ryȝtful titele he is boundyn to restitucion.
1564 A. Golding tr. Justinus Hist. Trogus Pompeius xvi. f. 80 v The kingdome of Macedone hys rightfull inheritaunce was taken from him throughe the falshod of his father in law.
1612 M. Drayton Poly-olbion xii. 203 His..sonne, By..Stepdam's hate, to death was lastly done, To set his rightfull Crowne vpon a wrongfull head.
1695 W. Congreve Love for Love iii. i. 47 I fear this Marriage and making over this Estate, this transferring of a rightful Inheritance, will bring Judgments upon us.
1736 Gentleman's Mag. Aug. 434/1 The rightful undisturbed Possession of it will add vastly to the Power of France.
1793 R. Burns Poems & Songs (1968) II. 578 Th' unfading garland.., Thy sair-won, rightful spoil.
1856 N. Hawthorne Jrnl. 10 May in Eng. Notebks. (1997) II. iv. 33 This unparalleled Englishman declined taking anything beyond his rightful halfpenny.
1874 A. Trollope Lady Anna II. xxviii. 44 Whether there was left some nearer heir when that Earl died, whose rightful claim would bar that of my client.
1930 L. Charteris Last Hero x. 159 The pugnacious driver of a baby car who ventured to insist on his rightful share of the road went white as the Hirondel forced him on to the kerb.
1987 R. Pilcher Shell Seekers xv. 484 She was adamant that there should be no argument about these, nor question of rightful possession.
2001 G. M. Hodgson How Econ. forgot Hist. xvii. 252 Legal or normative considerations would suggest that they [sc. stolen goods] remain the rightful property of their original owner.
3. Appropriate to the circumstances or for a particular purpose; fitting, proper; (also) according to fact or convention; correct.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > dueness or propriety > [adjective]
goodOE
proper?c1225
felea1250
featc1325
seeming1338
rightful1340
thriftyc1386
sittingc1390
duea1393
truea1398
goodly1398
convenienta1400
wella1400
seemc1400
likelyc1425
fitc1440
tallc1440
befalling1542
fittinga1616
the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > suitability or appropriateness > [adjective] > fitting or proper
methelyeOE
ylikeeOE
fairOE
i-meteOE
rightOE
becomelyc1175
proper?c1225
featc1325
conablea1340
rightful1340
worthyc1350
pursuanda1375
covenable1382
dignec1385
convenablec1386
thriftyc1386
sittingc1390
comenablea1400
gainlya1400
meeta1400
wortha1400
convenientc1400
meetlya1425
suinga1425
fitc1440
tallc1440
worthyc1450
good1477
dueful?a1527
beseeminga1530
fitting1535
straighta1538
decent1539
answerable1542
becoming1565
condecent1575
becomed1599
respective1605
befittinga1612
comely1617
decorous1664
shape-like1672
beseemly1737
farrantly?1748
fitly1840
in order1850
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 44 Þe oþre manere is huanne me heþ riȝtuolle [c1450 Bk. Vices & Virtues trewe] wyȝtes and riȝtuolle mesures and zelleþ ontreweliche.
c1400 (?a1387) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Huntington HM 137) (1873) C. iv. l. 377 Relacion rect is a ryhtful custome.
c1450 in D. Thomson Middle Eng. Grammatical Texts (1984) 178 In how many maners schalt thou bygynne to make Latyn? By foure by ryghtfull order of construccyon. By a nominatyf case [etc.].
a1500 ( J. Yonge tr. Secreta Secret. (Rawl.) (1898) 240 (MED) Of the ryghtfull houris and tymes of ettynge and drynkynge.
a1586 Sir P. Sidney tr. Psalms (1963) xli. vi. 95 Triumph well may I, whome thou do'st stay In my sound rightfull way.
1591 E. Spenser Prosopopoia in Complaints 794 Such is the rightfull Courtier in his kinde.
1676 A. Marvell Wks. (1875) II. 537 If they have no share by right in the government of themselves, by their certain rightful times of parliaments.
1704 M. Prior Let. to Boileau Despreaux 111 Danube scarce retains his rightful Course.
1839 J. Very Poems 42 The hand and foot that stir not, they shall find Sooner than all the rightful place to go.
a1853 F. W. Robertson Lect. & Addr. Lit. & Social Topics (1858) i. 30 You have surely proceeded in the rightful order.
1920 W. Upham Minnesota Geogr. Names 134 During a decade or longer a great strife raged concerning the true head of the Mississippi and the rightful name of Elk lake.
1946 T. H. White Mistress Masham's Repose xix. 162 To leave the matter in his hands, being as how..he would surely know what was rightful for to be done.
1991 J. Connor Distortions 84 ‘I'll see it's returned to its rightful place,’ said Michael.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > straightness > [adjective]
rightOE
straightc1350
rightfulc1384
line-rightc1400
rule-righta1450
streckc1480
unbent1483
straight forth1536
unwried1558
steel-straighta1560
untwisted1575
uncurled1597
rectified1598
cornerless1605
uncrooked1611
unbended1648
retent1656
uninflected1713
curveless1800
arrow-straight1834
unconvoluted1839
unwarped1855
curlless1861
undistorted1881
poker-straight1949
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Hosea. xiv. 10 For riȝtful [L. rectae] the wayes of the Lord, and iust men shuln walke in hem.
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Matt. iii. 3 Make ȝe redy the wayes of the Lord; make ȝe riȝtful the pathes of hym.
c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) ii. 6561 Ȝif trouþe oure sothfast guyde be, Vs to directe by his riȝtful lyne, Þan oure quarel schal ay in honour schine.
c1450 (?a1422) J. Lydgate Life Our Lady (Durh.) iv. 358 (MED) Thou..art the verrey rightful lyne, All this is crokede godely to redresse.
?1567 M. Parker Whole Psalter xxv. 58 What man he bee: that feareth thee, O Lord thou wylt hym teach: The rightfull way: to choose I say, in sprite thereto to retche.
1753 J. Theobald Musa Panegyrica 73 O Flow'r of antient British Faith, Pursuing still the rightful Path!
1783 J. Hoole tr. L. Ariosto Orlando Furioso III. xxviii. 388 The man of God,..Attends his charge, lest lightly drawn astray, her feet should wander from the rightful way.
1. With plural agreement. Chiefly with the: righteous people as a class. Cf. righteous n. 2. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
OE Homily (Junius 85/86) (Dict. Old Eng. transcript) Þa ðe gelome galaþ and þa unrihtfullan and þa arleasan.]
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 269 (MED) Doþ out þane uerste messagyer [sc. dread]; hyt ne is naȝt riȝt þet he bleue ine þe house myd þe ryȝtuolle.
c1350 Psalter (BL Add. 17376) in K. D. Bülbring Earliest Compl. Eng. Prose Psalter (1891) i. 6 (MED) Ne schal nouȝt þe wicked arise in iugement, ne þe sinniers in þe conseyl of þe ryȝtful [L. iustorum].
a1439 J. Lydgate Fall of Princes (Bodl. 263) iii. 3053 (MED) He sholde..Doon what hym list, wher it wer wrong or ryht, The rihtful punshe and the gilti spare.
a1475 Asneth 365 in Jrnl. Eng. & Germanic Philol. (1910) 9 242 Sche roos..And saide, ‘lord god of al rightful, þat madest land & flood,’ [etc.].
a1500 (?a1430) J. Lydgate tr. G. Deguileville Pilgrimage Life Man (Stowe) l. 16782 (MED) Thow art..Arke Off Mankyndes savacion, vnto the which Rightful and vnrightful fflen.
2. A righteous person. Cf. righteous n. 1. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > virtue > righteousness or rectitude > [noun] > righteous person
righteouseOE
rightfula1400
good livera1450
well-doer1491
rectitudinarian1671
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Trin. Cambr.) 17315 (MED) Euel haue ȝe done, wolde ȝe be knowen, Of þat riȝtful [sc. Christ] þat ȝe dud honge.
1583 A. Golding tr. J. Calvin Serm. on Deuteronomie clxxxi. 1125/2 It is said that after the rightfull or righteous was waxen fatte, he fell to kicking against his master.
Rightfully; properly. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > suitability or appropriateness > [adverb] > fittingly or properly
welleOE
fairOE
meetlyOE
rightOE
worthlylOE
haghelyc1175
worthilyc1175
becomelyc1200
properly?c1225
i-semelichec1275
thriftilyc1374
duly1382
sittinglyc1390
justlyc1392
rightfula1400
goodlyc1400
hemelyc1400
meeta1450
statelya1450
ensuingly?1518
handsomely1525
worshipfully1532
decently1552
due1581
meeterly1589
fairly1600
beseemingly1611
dightly1616
becomingly1624
befittingly1638
fittinglya1643
condecently1656
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) 3742 He has me done ful mekil schame; Rihtful was iacob cald his name.
a1500 ( J. Yonge tr. Secreta Secret. (Rawl.) (1898) 167 The Powere of a prynce that is not ryghtfull demenyt.
Compounds
rightful-born adj. now rare and somewhat archaic legitimate.
ΚΠ
1844 Edith Leslie I. ix. 233 Sure 'tis a salve to my soul to see your worshipful here, in the very midst of yer own rightful born sons and daughters.
1856 C. J. Lever Martins of Cro' Martin 623 A daughter—an illegitimate one—but worthy to be the rightful-born child to the first man in the land.
1994 D. J. Duncan Living God i. 4 At times she behaved as if she was the rightful-born impress of Pandemia..which she was.
Derivatives
ΚΠ
a1425 (a1396) R. Maidstone Paraphr. Seven Penitential Psalms (BL Add. 39574) 931 in M. Day Wheatley MS (1921) 58 (MED) For þi name in riȝtfulheede, Thou schalt me make qwike & liȝt.
c1450 (c1400) Bk. Vices & Virtues (Huntington) (1942) 169 (MED) Þis riȝtfulhed I may desire.
c1650 (c1400) Julian of Norwich Revelations Divine Love: Longer Version (Sloane 2499) (1996) 18 The rightfulhede of Gods werkyng was shewid to the soule.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > rightness or justice > [noun]
doomc825
righteOE
evennessOE
lawc1175
righteouslaikc1175
judgementc1300
righteousheada1325
justice1340
rightfulnessa1387
justnessc1443
fairnessc1450
rightfulhoodc1475
rightheada1500
uprightness1541
righteoushood1543
rightship1793
just-mindedness1838
c1475 ( J. Hardyng Chron. (Harl.) (1812) 162 (MED) [He wolde then of his] high rightfulhode That same waie cume as than longed to knyghthode.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2010; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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adj.n.adv.lOE