Divine right

Divine right
Right Right, n. [AS. right. See {Right}, a.] 1. That which is right or correct. Specifically: (a) The straight course; adherence to duty; obedience to lawful authority, divine or human; freedom from guilt, -- the opposite of moral wrong. (b) A true statement; freedom from error of falsehood; adherence to truth or fact. [1913 Webster]

Seldom your opinions err; Your eyes are always in the right. --Prior. [1913 Webster] (c) A just judgment or action; that which is true or proper; justice; uprightness; integrity. [1913 Webster]

Long love to her has borne the faithful knight, And well deserved, had fortune done him right. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

2. That to which one has a just claim. Specifically: (a) That which one has a natural claim to exact. [1913 Webster]

There are no rights whatever, without corresponding duties. --Coleridge. [1913 Webster] (b) That which one has a legal or social claim to do or to exact; legal power; authority; as, a sheriff has a right to arrest a criminal. (c) That which justly belongs to one; that which one has a claim to possess or own; the interest or share which anyone has in a piece of property; title; claim; interest; ownership. [1913 Webster]

Born free, he sought his right. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

Hast thou not right to all created things? --Milton. [1913 Webster]

Men have no right to what is not reasonable. --Burke. [1913 Webster] (d) Privilege or immunity granted by authority. [1913 Webster]

3. The right side; the side opposite to the left. [1913 Webster]

Led her to the Souldan's right. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]

4. In some legislative bodies of Europe (as in France), those members collectively who are conservatives or monarchists. See {Center}, 5. [1913 Webster]

5. The outward or most finished surface, as of a piece of cloth, a carpet, etc. [1913 Webster]

{At all right}, at all points; in all respects. [Obs.] --Chaucer.

{Bill of rights}, a list of rights; a paper containing a declaration of rights, or the declaration itself. See under {Bill}.

{By right}, {By rights}, or {By good rights}, rightly; properly; correctly. [1913 Webster]

He should himself use it by right. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

I should have been a woman by right. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

{Divine right}, or

{Divine right of kings}, a name given to the patriarchal theory of government, especially to the doctrine that no misconduct and no dispossession can forfeit the right of a monarch or his heirs to the throne, and to the obedience of the people.

{To rights}. (a) In a direct line; straight. [R.] --Woodward. (b) At once; directly. [Obs. or Colloq.] --Swift.

{To set to rights}, {To put to rights}, to put in good order; to adjust; to regulate, as what is out of order.

{Writ of right} (Law), a writ which lay to recover lands in fee simple, unjustly withheld from the true owner. --Blackstone. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Divine right — Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. Divine Right ou Divine Right of Kings est un terme anglais signifiant droit divin . Deux œuvres, dont le titre n a pas été traduit en français, portent ce …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Divine Right — may refer to: The Divine right of kings, the doctrine that a monarch derives his or her power directly from God Episcopal polity, the doctrine that is required in the church jure divino, i.e. by the command of God Divine Right (game), a fantasy… …   Wikipedia

  • divine right — divine rights N COUNT: usu sing If someone thinks they have a divine right to something, they think that it is their right to have it, without making any effort. A degree does not mean you have a divine right to health, wealth, and happiness …   English dictionary

  • Divine Right — Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. Divine Right ou Divine Right of Kings est un terme anglais signifiant droit divin . Deux œuvres, dont le titre n a pas été traduit en français, portent ce …   Wikipédia en Français

  • divine right — noun 1 (singular) the right given to a king or queen by God to rule a country, that in former times could not be questioned or opposed 2 have a divine right to do sth informal to be able to do what you want without having to ask permission: You… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • divine right — noun the doctrine that kings derive their right to rule directly from God and are not accountable to their subjects; rebellion is the worst of political crimes the doctrine of the divine right of kings was enunciated by the Stuarts in Britain in… …   Useful english dictionary

  • divine right — di.vine right n [singular] 1.) the right given to a king or queen by God to rule a country, that in former times could not be opposed 2.) informal the right to do what you want without having to ask permission ▪ Being my wife doesn t give you the …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • divine right — di,vine right noun singular 1. ) in the past, the idea that a king or queen ruled because of a right given by God so that they could not be opposed or removed from power 2. ) a right that you think you have to do what you want, even if it harms… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • divine right — UK / US noun [singular] 1) in the past, the idea that a king or queen ruled because of a right given by God so that they could not be opposed or removed from power 2) a right that you think you have that allows you to do what you want, even if it …   English dictionary

  • Divine right of kings — Right Right, n. [AS. right. See {Right}, a.] 1. That which is right or correct. Specifically: (a) The straight course; adherence to duty; obedience to lawful authority, divine or human; freedom from guilt, the opposite of moral wrong. (b) A true… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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