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righteous

 - 4 dictionary results

right⋅eous

  [rahy-chuhs]
Use righteous in a Sentence
–adjective
1. characterized by uprightness or morality: a righteous observance of the law.
2. morally right or justifiable: righteous indignation.
3. acting in an upright, moral way; virtuous: a righteous and godly person.
4. Slang. absolutely genuine or wonderful: some righteous playing by a jazz great.
–noun
5. the righteous, (used with a plural verb) righteous persons collectively.
Origin:
bef. 900; earlier rightwos, rightwis (remodeled with -ous ), ME; OE rihtwīs. See right, wise 2

Related forms:
right⋅eous⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
3. good, honest, fair, right.

Antonyms:
3. evil, wicked.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To righteous
right·eous   (rī'chəs)   
adj.  

  1. Morally upright; without guilt or sin: a righteous parishioner.

  2. In accordance with virtue or morality: a righteous judgment.

  3. Morally justifiable: righteous anger. See Synonyms at moral.

n.  Righteous people considered as a group.

[Middle English ryghtuous, alteration of rihtwise, from Old English rihtwīs : riht, right; see right + -wīse, -wise.]
right'eous·ly adv., right'eous·ness n.
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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Slang Dictionary
righteous [ˈrɑɪtʃəs]

  1. mod.
    good; of good quality. (Originally black.) : She is a righteous mama.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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Word Origin & History

righteous 
early 16c. alteration of rightwise, from O.E. rihtwis, from riht (see right) + wis "wise, way, manner." Suffix altered by influence of courteous, etc. Meaning "genuine, excellent" is c.1900 in jazz slang.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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