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rectitude

 - 3 dictionary results

rec⋅ti⋅tude

  [rek-ti-tood, -tyood]
Use rectitude in a Sentence
–noun
1. rightness of principle or conduct; moral virtue: the rectitude of her motives.
2. correctness: rectitude of judgment.
3. straightness.
Origin:
1400–50; late ME < MF < LL rēctitūdin- (s. of rēctitūdō) straightness, equiv. to L rēct(us) right + -tūdin- -tude

Synonyms:
1. integrity, probity, principle.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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rec·ti·tude   (rěk'tĭ-tōōd', -tyōōd')   
n.  

  1. Moral uprightness; righteousness.

  2. The quality or condition of being correct in judgment.

  3. The quality of being straight.


[Middle English, from Old French, from Late Latin rēctitūdō, from Latin rēctus, straight; see reg- in Indo-European roots.]
rec'ti·tu'di·nous adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

rectitude 
1432, "quality of being straight," from M.Fr. rectitude (14c.), from L.L. rectitudinem (nom. rectitudo) "straightness, uprightness," from L. rectus "straight" (see right). Sense of "upright in conduct or character" is from 1533.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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