- At right angles
- Right Right (r[imac]t), a. [OE. right, riht, AS. riht; akin to
D. regt, OS. & OHG. reht, G. recht, Dan. ret, Sw. r["a]tt,
Icel. r["e]ttr, 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
[1913 Webster]
2. Upright; erect from a base; having an upright axis; not oblique; as, right ascension; a right pyramid or cone. [1913 Webster]
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. [1913 Webster]
That which is conformable to the Supreme Rule is absolutely right, and is called right simply without relation to a special end. --Whately. [1913 Webster]
2. Fit; suitable; proper; correct; becoming; as, the right man in the right place; the right way from London to Oxford. [1913 Webster]
5. Characterized by reality or genuineness; real; actual; not spurious. ``His right wife.'' --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
In this battle, . . . the Britons never more plainly manifested themselves to be right barbarians. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
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. [1913 Webster]
You are right, Justice, and you weigh this well. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
If there be no prospect beyond the grave, the inference is . . . right, ``Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die.'' --Locke. [1913 Webster]
7. Most favorable or convenient; fortunate. [1913 Webster]
The lady has been disappointed on the right side. --Spectator. [1913 Webster]
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. [1913 Webster]
Became the sovereign's favorite, his right hand. --Longfellow. [1913 Webster]
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. [1913 Webster]
9. Well placed, disposed, or adjusted; orderly; well regulated; correctly done. [1913 Webster]
10. Designed to be placed or worn outward; as, the right side of a piece of cloth. [1913 Webster]
{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. [1913 Webster]
Note: Right is used elliptically for it is right, what you say is right, true. [1913 Webster]
``Right,'' cries his lordship. --Pope. [1913 Webster]
Syn: Straight; direct; perpendicular; upright; lawful; rightful; true; correct; just; equitable; proper; suitable; becoming. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.