Idioms for right

Origin of right

before 900; (noun and adj.) Middle English; Old English reht, riht; cognate with Dutch, German recht, Old Norse rēttr, Gothic raihts; akin to Latin rēctus, Old Irish recht law, Greek orektós upright; (v.) Middle English righten, Old English rihtan, cognate with Old Frisian riuchta, German richten, Old Norse rētta; (adv.) Middle English; Old English rihte

ANTONYMS FOR right

1–5, 10, 21 wrong.

usage note for right

47. Right in the sense of “very, extremely” is either archaic or dialectal. It is most common in informal speech and writing: It's right cold this morning. The editor knew right well where the story had originated.

OTHER WORDS FROM right

right·a·ble, adjective half-right, adjective, noun un·right·a·ble, adjective un·right·ed, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH right

right righteous rightful right rite wright write

British Dictionary definitions for by rights

Derived forms of right

righter, noun

Word Origin for right

Old English riht, reoht; related to Old High German reht, Gothic raihts, Latin rēctus

Idioms and Phrases with by rights (1 of 2)

by rights

Justly, in fairness, as in By rights he should have been chosen first. Originally put as by right, this term was first recorded about 1315.

Idioms and Phrases with by rights (2 of 2)

right