rightwise

rightwise · adjective, verb¹

1. Old English · inherited fromrihtwīs“righteous, just; right, justifiable”
2. Middle English · inherited fromrightwise
3. English todayrightwise

From Middle English rightwise, rightwis, from Old English rihtwīs (“righteous, just; right, justifiable”), corresponding to right + -wise. The second element was later confused with or assimilated to -ous, leading to the modern spelling righteous.

rightwise · adverb²

1. Old English · inherited fromrihtwīs
2. English todayrightwise

Presumably from Old English rihtwīs, reinforced by reanalysis as right + wise.

rightwise · adverb, adjective³

From right + -wise.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• 13th–16th c. Obsolete spelling of righteous .