Emily Dickinson Lexicon

RIG'GING, n.

Dress; tackle; particularly, the ropes which support the masts, extend and contract the sails, &c. of a ship. This is of two kinds, standing rigging, as the shrouds and stays, and running rigging, such as braces, sheets, halliards, clewlines, &c. – Mar. Dict.

RIG'GING, ppr.

Dressing; fitting with shrouds, braces, &c.

RIG'GISH, a.

Wanton; lewd. [Not in use.] – Shak.

RIG'GLE, v.i.

To move one way and the other. [See Wriggle.]

RIGHT, a. [rite; Sax. riht, reht; D. regt; G. recht; Dan. rigtig; Sw. ricktig; It. retto; Sp. recto; L. rectus, from the root of rego, properly to strain or stretch, whence straight; Sax. recan. See Class Rg, No. 18, 46, 47. Properly, strained; stretched to straightness; hence,]

1. Straight. A right line in geometry is the shortest line that can be drawn or imagined between two points. A right line may be horizontal, perpendicular, or inclined to the plane of the horizon.
2. In morals and religion, just; equitable; accordant to the standard of truth and justice or the will of God. That alone is right in the sight of God, which is consonant to his will or law; this being the only perfect standard of truth and justice. In social and political affairs, that is right which is consonant to the laws and customs of a country, provided these laws and customs are not repugnant to the laws of God. A man's intentions may be right, though his actions may be wrong in consequence of a defect in judgment.
3. Fit; suitable; proper; becoming. In things indifferent, or which are regulated by no positive law, that is right which is best suited to the character, occasion or purpose, or which is fitted to produce some good effect. It is right for a rich man to dress himself and his family in expensive clothing, which it would not be right for a poor man to purchase. It is right for every man to choose his own time for eating or exercise. Right is a relative term; what may be right for one end, may be wrong for another.
4. Lawful; as, the right heir of an estate.
5. True; not erroneous or wrong; according to fact. If there be no prospect beyond the grave, the inference is certainly right, “Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die.” – Locke.
6. Correct; passing a true judgment; not mistaken or wrong. You are right, justice, and you weigh this well. – Shak.
7. Not left, but its opposite; most convenient or dextrous; as, the right hand, which is generally most strong or most convenient in use.
8. Most favorable or convenient. The lady has been disappointed on the right side. – Spectator.
9. Properly placed, disposed or adjusted; orderly; well regulated.
10. Well performed, as an art or act.
11. Most direct; as, the right way from London to Oxford.
12. Being on the same side as the right hand; as, the right side.
13. Being on the right hand of a person whose face is toward the mouth of a river; as, the right bank of the Hudson.

RIGHT, adv.

1. In a right or straight line; directly. Let thine eyes look right on. – Prov. iv.
2. According to the law or will of God, or to the standard of truth and justice; as, to judge right.
3. According to any rule of art. You with strict discipline instructed right. – Roscommon.
4. According to fact or truth; as, to tell a story right.
5. In a great degree; very; as, right humble; right noble; right valiant. [Obsolescent or inelegant.]
6. It is prefixed to titles; as, in right honorable; right reverend.

RIGHT, exclam.

Is used elliptically for it is right, what you say is right, it is true, &c. Right, cries his lordship. – Pope. On the right, on the side with the right hand.

RIGHT, n.

1. Conformity to the will of God, or to his law, the perfect standard of truth and justice. In the literal sense, right is a straight line of conduct, and wrong a crooked one. Right therefore is rectitude or straightness, and perfect rectitude is found only in an infinite Being and his will.
2. Conformity to human laws, or to other human standard of truth, propriety or justice. When laws are definite, right and wrong are easily ascertained and understood. In arts, there are some principles and rules which determine what is right. In many things indifferent, or left without positive law, we are to judge what is right by fitness or propriety, by custom, civility or other circumstances.
3. Justice; that which is due or proper; as, to do right to every man. Long love to her has borne the faithful knight, / And well deserv'd, had fortune done him right. – Dryden.
4. Freedom from error; conformity with truth or fact. Seldom your opinions err, / Your eyes are always in the right. – Prior.
5. Just claim; legal title; ownership; the legal power of exclusive possession and enjoyment. In hereditary monarchies, a right to the throne vests in the heir on the decease of the king. A deed vests the right of possession in the purchaser of land. Right and possession are very different things. We often have occasion to demand and sue for rights not in possession.
6. Just claim by courtesy, customs, or the principles of civility and decorum. Every man has a right to civil treatment. The magistrate has a right to respect.
7. Just claim by sovereignty; prerogative. God, as the author of all things, has a right to govern and dispose of them at his pleasure.
8. That which justly belongs to one. Born free, he sought his right. – Dryden.
9. Property; interest. A subject in his prince may claim a right. – Dryden.
10. Just claim; immunity; privilege. All men have a right to the secure enjoyment of life, personal safety, liberty and property. We deem the right of trial by jury invaluable, particularly in the case of crimes. Rights are natural, civil, political, religious, personal, and public.
11. Authority; legal power. We have no right to disturb others in the enjoyment of their religious opinions.
12. In the United States, a tract of land; or a share or proportion of property, as in a mine or manufactory.
13. The side opposite to the left; as, on the right. Look to the right. To rights, in a direct line; straight. [Unusual.] – Woodward. #2. Directly; soon. To set to rights, or To put to rights, to put into good order; to adjust; to regulate what is out of order. Bill of rights, a list of rights; a paper containing a declaration of rights, or the declaration itself. Writ of right, a writ which lies to recover lands in fee simple, unjustly withheld from the true owner. – Blackstone.

RIGHT, v.i.

To rise with the masts erect, as a ship.

RIGHT, v.t.

1. To do justice to; to relieve from wrong; as, to right an injured person. – Taylor.
2. In seamen's language, to right a ship, is to restore her to an upright position from a careen. To right the helm, to place it in the middle of the ship.

RIGHT-AN'GLE, n.

In geometry, an angle of ninety degrees or one fourth of a circle.

RIGHT-AN'GLED, a.

Containing a right angle or right angles.

RIGHT'ED, pp.

Relieved from injustice; set upright.

RIGHT'EN, v.t. [Sax. gerihtan.]

To do justice to. [Obs.]

RIGHT'EOUS, a. [ri'chus; Sax. rihtwise; right and wise, manner, as in otherwise, lengthwise.]

1. Just; accordant to the divine law. Applied to persons, it denotes one who is holy in heart, and observant of the divine commands in practice; as, a righteous man. Applied to things, it denotes consonant to the divine will or to justice; as a righteous act. It is used chiefly in theology, and applied to God, to his testimonies and to his saints. The righteous, in Scripture, denote the servants of God, the saints.
2. Just; equitable; merited. And I thy righteous doom will bless. – Dryden.

RIGHT'EOUS-LY, adv. [ri'chusly.]

Justly; in accordance with the laws of justice; equitably; as, a criminal righteously condemned. Thou shalt judge the people righteously. – Ps. lxvii.

RIGHT'EOUS-NESS, n. [ri'chusness.]

1. Purity of heart and rectitude of life; conformity of heart and life to the divine law. Righteousness, as used in Scripture and theology, in which it is chiefly used, is nearly equivalent to holiness, comprehending holy principles and affections of heart, and conformity of life to the divine law. It includes all we call justice, honesty and virtue, with holy affections; in short, it is true religion.
2. Applied to God, the perfection or holiness of his nature; exact rectitude; faithfulness.
3. The active and passive obedience of Christ, by which the law of God is fulfilled. – Dan ix.
4. Justice; equity between man and man. – Luke i.
5. The cause of our justification. The Lord our righteousness. – Jer. xxiii.

RIGHT'ER, n.

One who sets right; one who does justice or redresses wrong.

RIGHT'FUL, a.

1. Having the right or just claim according to established laws; as, the rightful heir to a throne or an estate.
2. Being by right, or by just claim; as, a rightful lord; rightful property; rightful judge.
3. Just; consonant to justice; as, a rightful cause; a rightful war. – Prior.

RIGHT'FUL-LY, adv.

According to right, law or justice; as, a title rightfully vested.

RIGHT-FUL-NESS, n.

1. Justice; accordance with the rules of right; as, the rightfulness of a claim to lands or tenements.
2. Moral rectitude. But still although we fail of perfect rightfulness. – Sidney. [Not usual.]

RIGHT'-HAND, n.

The hand opposite to the left, usually the most employed, the strongest, most convenient or dextrous hand, and hence its name in other languages, as well as in ours.

RIGHT-HEART'ED, a.

Having right dispositions.

RIGHT'ING, ppr.

Doing justice to; setting upright.

RIGHT'LESS, a.

Destitute of right.