rightly

What it means

1. In a right manner; correctly, justifiably.

   I don't rightly know what he meant by that remark.

   5 more examples

   She was quite rightly disappointed in not being promoted.

   Princes, Heavens antient Sons, Æthereal Thrones, / Demonian Spirits now, from the Element / Each of his reign allotted, rightlier call’d, / Powers of Fire, Air, Water, and Earth beneath, / So may we hold our place and theſe mild ſeats / Without new trouble; […]

   1671, John Milton, “The Second Book”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC, pages 34–35, lines 122–127

   As to eleemoſynary corporations, by the dotation the founder and his heirs are of common right the legal viſitors, to ſee that that property is rightly employed, which would otherwiſe have deſcended to the viſitor himſelf: […]

   1765, William Blackstone, “Of Corporations”, in Commentaries on the Laws of England, book I (Of the Rights of Persons), Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 469

   If rightly used, it will save a great deal of money in every household.

   1909, Sidney Morse, An Encyclopaedia of Practical Recipes and Processes, The Success Company, page 21

   Mother very rightly resented the slightest hint of condescension. She considered that the exclusiveness of Peter's circle was due not to its distinction, but to the fact that it was an inner Babylon of prodigality and whoredom,[…].

   1921, Ben Travers, chapter 2, in A Cuckoo in the Nest, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, published 1925, →OCLC

   Synonyms: correctly, properly, accordantly, accordingly, agreeably, appropriately, becomingly, compliantly

In a sentence

She was quite rightly disappointed in not being promoted.

Where it comes from

1. Proto-Germanic*rehtalīkê
2. Proto-West Germanic*rehtalīkā
3. Old Englishrihtlīċe
4. Middle Englishryȝtly
5. Englishrightly

From Middle English ryȝtly, rihtliche, from Old English rihtlīċe, from Proto-West Germanic *rehtalīkā, *rehtalīkō, from Proto-Germanic *rehtalīkê, *rehtalīkô (“rightly”), equivalent to right + -ly. Cognate with West Frisian rjochtlik, Dutch rechtelijk, German rechtlich, Swedish rätteligen, Icelandic réttilega.