Righteous

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈraɪtʃəs/
• Rhymes: -aɪtʃəs

Alternative forms

• rightuous, rightwise

Origin

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.

Full definition of righteous

Adjective

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

Derived terms

• righteousness
• self-righteous

Verb

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.