righteous

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Contents

English [edit]

Alternative forms [edit]

Etymology [edit]

From earlier rightuous, rightwose, rightwos, rightwise, from Middle English rightwise, rightwis, from Old English rihtwīs (righteous, just, right, justifiable), corresponding to right +‎ -wise (with assimilation of second element to -ous), or to right +‎ wise (way, manner). Cognate with Scots richtwis (righteous), Old High German rehtwīsic (righteous, just), Icelandic réttvíss (righteous, just). Compare also thefteous, mighteous.

Pronunciation [edit]

Adjective [edit]

righteous (comparative more righteous, superlative most righteous)

  1. free from sin or guilt
  2. moral and virtuous, suggesting sanctimonious
  3. justified morally
  4. (slang, US) awesome

Derived terms [edit]

Translations [edit]

Verb [edit]

righteous (third-person singular simple present righteouses, present participle righteousing, simple past and past participle righteoused)

  1. To make righteous; specifically, to justify religiously, to absolve from sin.
    • 2009, Diarmaid MacCulloch, A History of Christianity, Penguin 2010, p. 101:
      Thus for the purposes of being ‘righteoused’, the Law was irrelevant; yet Paul could not bear to see all the Law disappear.