from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Right \Right\ (r[imac]t), a. [OE. right, riht, AS. riht; akin to
D. regt, OS. & OHG. reht, G. recht, Dan. ret, Sw. r[aum]tt,
Icel. rettr, Goth. ra['i]hts, L. rectus, p. p. of regere to
guide, rule; cf. Skr. [.r]ju straight, right. [root]115. Cf.
{Adroit},{Alert}, {Correct}, {Dress}, {Regular}, {Rector},
{Recto}, {Rectum}, {Regent}, {Region}, {Realm}, {Rich},
{Royal}, {Rule}.]
1. Straight; direct; not crooked; as, a right line. "Right as
any line." --Chaucer
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2. Upright; erect from a base; having an upright axis; not
oblique; as, right ascension; a right pyramid or cone.
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3. Conformed to the constitution of man and the will of God,
or to justice and equity; not deviating from the true and
just; according with truth and duty; just; true.
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That which is conformable to the Supreme Rule is
absolutely right, and is called right simply without
relation to a special end. --Whately.
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2. Fit; suitable; proper; correct; becoming; as, the right
man in the right place; the right way from London to
Oxford.
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5. Characterized by reality or genuineness; real; actual; not
spurious. "His right wife." --Chaucer.
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In this battle, . . . the Britons never more plainly
manifested themselves to be right barbarians.
--Milton.
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6. According with truth; passing a true judgment; conforming
to fact or intent; not mistaken or wrong; not erroneous;
correct; as, this is the right faith.
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You are right, Justice, and you weigh this well.
--Shak.
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If there be no prospect beyond the grave, the
inference is . . . right, "Let us eat and drink, for
to-morrow we die." --Locke.
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7. Most favorable or convenient; fortunate.
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The lady has been disappointed on the right side.
--Spectator.
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8. Of or pertaining to that side of the body in man on which
the muscular action is usually stronger than on the other
side; -- opposed to left when used in reference to a part
of the body; as, the right side, hand, arm. Also applied
to the corresponding side of the lower animals.
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Became the sovereign's favorite, his right hand.
--Longfellow.
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Note: In designating the banks of a river, right and left are
used always with reference to the position of one who
is facing in the direction of the current's flow.
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9. Well placed, disposed, or adjusted; orderly; well
regulated; correctly done.
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10. Designed to be placed or worn outward; as, the right side
of a piece of cloth.
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{At right angles}, so as to form a right angle or right
angles, as when one line crosses another perpendicularly.
{Right and left}, in both or all directions. [Colloq.]
{Right and left coupling} (Pipe fitting), a coupling the
opposite ends of which are tapped for a right-handed screw
and a left-handed screw, respectivelly.
{Right angle}.
(a) The angle formed by one line meeting another
perpendicularly, as the angles ABD, DBC.
(b) (Spherics) A spherical angle included between the
axes of two great circles whose planes are
perpendicular to each other.
{Right ascension}. See under {Ascension}.
{Right Center} (Politics), those members belonging to the
Center in a legislative assembly who have sympathies with
the Right on political questions. See {Center}, n., 5.
{Right cone}, {Right cylinder}, {Right prism}, {Right
pyramid} (Geom.), a cone, cylinder, prism, or pyramid, the
axis of which is perpendicular to the base.
{Right line}. See under {Line}.
{Right sailing} (Naut.), sailing on one of the four cardinal
points, so as to alter a ship's latitude or its longitude,
but not both. --Ham. Nav. Encyc.
{Right sphere} (Astron. & Geol.), a sphere in such a position
that the equator cuts the horizon at right angles; in
spherical projections, that position of the sphere in
which the primitive plane coincides with the plane of the
equator.
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Note: Right is used elliptically for it is right, what you
say is right, true.
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"Right," cries his lordship. --Pope.
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Syn: Straight; direct; perpendicular; upright; lawful;
rightful; true; correct; just; equitable; proper;
suitable; becoming.
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