righteous
adjective
- in accordance with divine or moral law
- in a right relationship with God
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈɹaɪt͡ʃəs/ / /ˈɹaɪtjəs/ / /ˈɹaɪti.əs/
adj
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.
- Free from sin or guilt.
“The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bolde as a lyon.”
- Moral and virtuous, perhaps to the point of sanctimony.
“Human beings should take a righteous path, and so should art. We should promote kindness and beauty through art.”
- Justified morally.
“righteous indignation”
- Awesome; great.
“The sportos, the motorheads, geeks, sluts, bloods, wastoids, dweebies, dickheads - they all adore him. They think he's a righteous dude.”
“He sold me a bulging paper sack full of Cambodian Red for two dolla' MPC. A strange experience, copping from a kid, but it was righteous weed.”
- Major; large; significant.
“He found Richard in one piece near a large circular container, thankfully, staring at a righteous mess of blood and gore.”
verb
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.
- To make righteous; specifically, to justify religiously, to absolve from sin.
“Thus for the purposes of being ‘righteoused’, the Law was irrelevant; yet Paul could not bear to see all the Law disappear.”