The word for right and wrong

right /raɪt/USA pronunciation  
adj., -er, -est, n., adv., v. 
adj.

1. agreeing with what is good, proper, or just:right conduct.[it + be + ~ + to + verb]Is it ever right to kill someone?[it + be + ~ + (that) clause]«It is right and proper that we give thanks to God,» he intoned.
2. correct in one’s judgment or action:[be + ~]You were right; the movie was terrible.[~ + to + verb]You were right to fire him.
3. correct in fact:Is that the right answer?
4. fitting;
   suitable;
   desirable:the right clothes for the occasion.
5. [before a noun] of or relating to the side of a person or thing that is toward the east when that person or thing is facing north.
6. sound;
   sane:in one’s right mind.
7. in good health or spirits:I haven’t felt right in days.
8. front or upper:right side up.
9. Government[often: Right] of or belonging to the political Right;
   having conservative views in politics.

n.

1. something due to anyone by a just claim, moral principles, nature, etc.:[countable]the right to free speech.
2. that which is morally or legally proper and correct:[uncountable]the difference between right and wrong.
3. the state or quality or an instance of being correct:[uncountable* usually: the + ~]You are in the right and the courts should agree with your claim.
4. the side that is normally opposite to that where the heart is:[uncountable]to turn to the right.
5. a right-hand turn:[countable]Make a right at the corner.
6. Government the Right, [uncountable]
   • individuals or groups calling for keeping the established political, social, or economic order.
   • the conservative position held by these people.

adv.

1. in a straight or direct line:The ship went right to the bottom.
2. quite;
   completely:My hat was knocked right off.
3. immediately;
   promptly:turned on the TV right after dinner.
4. exactly;
   precisely:Put it down right here on the table.
5. correctly or accurately:You guessed right.
6. properly:to live right.
7. to one’s benefit or advantage:After a long hassle everything turned out right.
8. on or to the right:to turn right.
9. [Informal.]very;
   extremely:a right fine day.
10. very:[often: Right* used in certain titles]The Right Reverend John C. Doe.

v. [~ + object]

1. to put in or back to an upright position:to right a fallen lamp.
2. to bring into agreement with fact;
   correct:to right one’s point of view.
3. to do justice to:The king would right the wrongs done by the prince.

Idioms

1. Idioms by rights, in fairness;
   justly:We should by rights have made back all our money by this time.
2. Idioms in one’s own right, by reason of one’s own ability:Although he was the son of a famous football coach he soon became famous in his own right.
3. Idioms in the right, having the support of reason or law.
4. Idioms right away or off, without hesitation;
   immediately:Right off, you could tell he disliked her.
5. Idioms right on, [Slang.](used to express approval of what has been said or agreement that it is exactly right):«Power to the people,» he yelled, and the crowd roared back «Right on!»
6. Idioms to rights, into proper condition or order:to set a messed-up room to rights.

right•ly, adv. 
right•ness, n. [uncountable]

right 
(rīt),USA pronunciation adj., -er, -est, n., adv., v. 
adj.

1. in accordance with what is good, proper, or just:right conduct.
2. in conformity with fact, reason, truth, or some standard or principle;
   correct:the right solution; the right answer.
3. correct in judgment, opinion, or action.
4. fitting or appropriate;
   suitable:to say the right thing at the right time.
5. most convenient, desirable, or favorable:Omaha is the right location for a meatpacking firm.
6. of, pertaining to, or located on or near the side of a person or thing that is turned toward the east when the subject is facing north (opposed to left).
7. in a satisfactory state;
   in good order:to put things right.
8. sound, sane, or normal:to be in one’s right mind; She wasn’t right in her head when she made the will.
9. in good health or spirits:I don’t feel quite right today.
10. principal, front, or upper:the right side of cloth.
11. Government(often cap.) of or pertaining to political conservatives or their beliefs.
12. socially approved, desirable, or influential:to go to the right schools and know the right people.
13. formed by or with reference to a perpendicular:a right angle.
14. straight:a right line.
15. Mathematics[Geom.]having an axis perpendicular to the base:a right cone.
16. Mathematicspertaining to an element of a set that has a given property when placed on the right of an element or set of elements of the given set:a right identity.
17. genuine;
    authentic:the right owner.
18. British Terms too right, [Australian Slang.]
    • (used as an expression of emphatic agreement.)
    • okay:«Can we meet tonight?» «Too right.»

n.

1. a just claim or title, whether legal, prescriptive, or moral:You have a right to say what you please.
2. Sometimes, rights. that which is due to anyone by just claim, legal guarantees, moral principles, etc.:women’s rights; Freedom of speech is a right of all Americans.
3. adherence or obedience to moral and legal principles and authority.
4. that which is morally, legally, or ethically proper:to know right from wrong.
5. a moral, ethical, or legal principle considered as an underlying cause of truth, justice, morality, or ethics.
6. Sometimes, rights. the interest or ownership a person, group, or business has in property:He has a 50-percent right in a silver mine. The author controls the screen rights for the book.
7. the property itself or its value.
8. [Finance.]
   • Businessthe privilege, usually preemptive, that accrues to the owners of the stock of a corporation to subscribe to additional shares of stock or securities convertible into stock at an advantageous price.
   • BusinessOften, rights. the privilege of subscribing to a specified amount of a stock or bond issue, or the document certifying this privilege.

9. that which is in accord with fact, reason, propriety, the correct way of thinking, etc.
10. the state or quality or an instance of being correct.
11. the side that is normally opposite to that where the heart is;
    the direction toward that side:to turn to the right.
12. a right-hand turn:Make a right at the top of the hill.
13. the portion toward the right, as of troops in battle formation:Our right crumbled.
14. (in a pair) the member that is shaped for, used by, or situated on the right side:Is this shoe a left or a right?
15. the right hand:Jab with your left and punch with your right.
16. Government the Right:
    • the complex of individuals or organized groups opposing change in a liberal direction and usually advocating maintenance of the established social, political, or economic order, sometimes by authoritarian means.
    • the position held by these people:The Depression led to a movement away from the Right.Cf. left ¹ (defs. 6a, b).
    • See right wing. 

17. Government(usually cap.) the part of a legislative assembly, esp. in continental Europe, that is situated on the right side of the presiding officer and that is customarily assigned to members of the legislature who hold more conservative or reactionary views than the rest of the members.
18. Governmentthe members of such an assembly who sit on the Right.
19. Sport[Boxing.]a blow delivered by the right hand:a right to the jaw.
20. Sport[Baseball.]See right field. 
21. by rights, in fairness;
    justly:You should by rights have been asked your opinion on the matter.
22. in one’s own right, by reason of one’s own ability, ownership, etc.;
    in or of oneself, as independent of others:He is a rich man in his own right.
23. in the right, having the support of reason or law;
    correct:It pays to be stubborn when one is in the right.
24. to rights, into proper condition or order:to set a room to rights.

adv.

1. in a straight or direct line;
   straight;
   directly:right to the bottom; to come right home.
2. quite or completely;
   all the way:My hat was knocked right off.
3. immediately;
   promptly:right after dinner.
4. exactly;
   precisely:right here.
5. correctly or accurately:to guess right.
6. uprightly or righteously:to obey one’s conscience and live right.
7. properly or fittingly:to behave right.
8. advantageously, favorably, or well:to turn out right.
9. toward the right hand;
   on or to the right:to keep right; to turn right.
10. Informal Termsvery;
    extremely:a right fine day.
11. very (used in certain titles):the right reverend.
12. right and left, on every side;
    in all directions:throwing his clothes right and left; members resigning right and left.
13. right away or off, without hesitation;
    immediately:She made a good impression right off.
14. right on, [Slang.]exactly right;
    precisely.

v.t.

1. to put in or restore to an upright position:to right a fallen lamp.
2. to put in proper order, condition, or relationship:to right a crookedly hung picture.
3. to bring into conformity with fact;
   correct:to right one’s point of view.
4. to do justice to;
   avenge:to be righted in court.
5. to redress, as a wrong.

v.i.

1. to resume an upright or the proper position:After the storm the saplings righted.

right′a•ble, adj. 

• 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged equitable, fair, honest, lawful.
• 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged accurate, true.
• 4.See corresponding entry in Unabridged fit, seemly.
• 5.See corresponding entry in Unabridged proper.
• 10.See corresponding entry in Unabridged obverse.
• 17.See corresponding entry in Unabridged rightful.
• 22.See corresponding entry in Unabridged morality, virtue, justice, fairness, integrity, equity, rectitude.
• 48.See corresponding entry in Unabridged rightfully, lawfully, rightly, justly, fairly, equitably.
• 49.See corresponding entry in Unabridged appropriately, suitably.

• 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged –5, 10, 22. wrong.

52. Right in the sense of «very, extremely» is neither old-fashioned nor dialectal. It is most common in informal speech and writing:It’s right cold this morning.The editor knew right well where the story had originated.

right /raɪt/ adj

1. in accordance with accepted standards of moral or legal behaviour, justice, etc: right conduct
2. in accordance with fact, reason, or truth; correct or true: the right answer
3. appropriate, suitable, fitting, or proper: the right man for the job
4. most favourable or convenient; preferred: the right time to act
5. in a satisfactory condition; orderly: things are right again now
6. indicating or designating the correct time: the clock is right
7. correct in opinion or judgment
8. sound in mind or body; healthy or sane
9. (usually prenominal) of, designating, or located near the side of something or someone that faces east when the front is turned towards the north
10. (usually prenominal) worn on a right hand, foot, etc
11. (sometimes capital) of, designating, supporting, belonging to, or relating to the political or intellectual right (see sense 39)
12. (sometimes capital) conservative or reactionary: the right wing of the party
13. formed by or containing a line or plane perpendicular to another line or plane
14. having the axis perpendicular to the base: a right circular cone
15. straight: a right line
16. relating to or designating the side of cloth worn or facing outwards
17. informal (intensifier): a right idiot
18. in one’s right mind ⇒ sane
19. she’ll be right ⇒ Austral NZ informal that’s all right; not to worry
20. the right side of ⇒ in favour with: you’d better stay on the right side of him
21. younger than: she’s still on the right side of fifty

adv

1. too right ⇒ Austral NZ informal an exclamation of agreement
2. in accordance with correctness or truth; accurately: to guess right
3. in the appropriate manner; properly: do it right next time!
4. in a straight line; directly: right to the top
5. in the direction of the east from the point of view of a person or thing facing north
6. absolutely or completely; utterly: he went right through the floor
7. all the way: the bus goes right to the city centre
8. without delay; immediately or promptly: I’ll be right over
9. exactly or precisely: right here
10. in a manner consistent with a legal or moral code; justly or righteously: do right by me
11. in accordance with propriety; fittingly or suitably: it serves you right
12. to good or favourable advantage; well: it all came out right in the end
13. (esp in religious titles) most or very: right reverend
14. informal or dialect (intensifier): I’m right glad to see you
15. right, left, and centre ⇒ on all sides; from every direction
16. right off the bat ⇒ informal as the first in a series; to begin with

n

1. any claim, title, etc, that is morally just or legally granted as allowable or due to a person: I know my rights
2. anything that accords with the principles of legal or moral justice
3. the fact or state of being in accordance with reason, truth, or accepted standards (esp in the phrase in the right)
4. Irish an obligation or duty: you had a right to lock the door
5. the right side, direction, position, area, or part: the right of the army, look to the right
6. the right ⇒ (often capital) the supporters or advocates of social, political, or economic conservatism or reaction, based generally on a belief that things are better left unchanged (opposed to radical or left)
7. a punch with the right hand
8. the right hand
9. (often plural) the privilege of a company’s shareholders to subscribe for new issues of the company’s shares on advantageous terms
10. the negotiable certificate signifying this privilege
11. by right, by rights ⇒ properly; justly: by rights you should be in bed
12. in one’s own right ⇒ having a claim or title oneself rather than through marriage or other connection: a peeress in her own right
13. to rights ⇒ consistent with justice, correctness, or orderly arrangement: he put the matter to rights

vb (mainly tr)

1. (also intr) to restore to or attain a normal, esp an upright, position: the raft righted in a few seconds
2. to make (something) accord with truth or facts; correct
3. to restore to an orderly state or condition; put right
4. to make reparation for; compensate for or redress (esp in the phrase right a wrong)

interj

1. an expression of agreement or compliance

Etymology: Old English riht, reoht; related to Old High German reht, Gothic raihts, Latin rēctus

ˈrighter n