English Explanatory Dictionary

righteous

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Free from sin or guilt.
  2. Moral and virtuous, perhaps to the point of sanctimony.
  3. Justified morally.
  4. Awesome; great.
  5. Major; large; significant.
verb
  1. To make righteous; specifically, to justify religiously, to absolve from sin.

Pronunciation

/ˈɹaɪt͡ʃəs/ /ˈɹaɪtjəs/ /ˈɹaɪti.əs/ en-us-righteous.ogg

Word forms

righteous more righteous most righteous rightuous rightwise righteouses righteousing righteoused

Etymology

From earlier rightuous, rightwose, rightwos, rightwise, from Middle English rightwise, rightwis, from Old English rihtwīs (“righteous, just”), corresponding to right + -wise (with assimilation of second element to -ous), or to right + wise (“way, manner”). Cognate with Scots richtwis (“righteous”), Old High German rehtwīsic (“righteous, just”), Icelandic réttvíss (“righteous, just”). Compare also thefteous, mighteous.

Synonyms

guiltless sinless blameless clean clean-handed clean as a hound's tooth clean as a whistle clear dovelike innocent innocent as the babe unborn innocent as the child unborn irreprehensible nonblameworthy not guilty offenseless pure righteous sackless unblameable unblameworthy uncalculating unguilty decorous chaste continent correct delicate decent desertful deserving dutiful duteous good honest meritorious modest moral noble right right-minded straight uprighteous virtual virtuous well-intentioned whole-souled worthy dope lit wicked amazing astounding awe-inspiring awesome awful sensational awesomesauce based beatific

Related words

lefteous

Derived words

overrighteous Righteous Among the Nations righteously righteousness self-righteous unrighteous uprighteous
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