Dictionary

rectitude en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈɹɛk.tə.tjuːd/ (UK)
• /ˈɹɛk.tə.tuːd/ (US)
• /ˈɹɛk.tə.tjuːd/ (US)
• (US) audio
• /ˈɹɛk.tɪ.tjuːd/ (UK)
• (Australia) audio

Etymology

From Middle English rectitude, from Middle French rectitude, from Late Latin rectitūdō (“straightness, uprightness”), from Latin rectus (“straight”), perfect passive participle of regō (“regulate, guide”).

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) Straightness; the state or quality of having a constant direction and not being crooked or bent.
2. (archaic, countable, uncountable) The fact or quality of being right or correct; correctness of opinion or judgement.
   • A consciousness of rectitude can be a terrible thing, and in those days I didn't just think that I was right: I thought that “we” (our group of International Socialists in particular) were being damn well proved right. 2010, Christopher Hitchens, Hitch-22, Atlantic, published 2011, page 98:
3. (countable, uncountable) Conformity to the rules prescribed for moral conduct; (moral) uprightness, virtue.
   • “Sit with her all night if we have to,” Syd affirms with strenuous rectitude. 1986, John le Carré, A Perfect Spy:
   • We, therefore, the Repreſentatives of the united States of America, in General Congreſs, Aſsembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of theſe Colonies, ſolemnly publiſh and declare, That theſe United Colonies are, and of right ought to be Free and Independent States[…] 1776 July 4, Thomas Jefferson et al., United States Declaration of Independence:

Forms

Deriveds

rectitudinarian · rectitudinal · rectitudinous

Synonyms

virtuousness · angelicness · saintliness · honesty · angelicity · godliness · seemliness · integrity · angelicality · uprightness · righteousness · rectitude · morality · decency · rectilinearity · integrity · rightfulness · honesty · propriety · probity · seemlihood · honor · saintlikeness · straightness · angelicalness

Translations (45)

nl rechtlijnigheid (rightness of principle or practice) · fi suoruus (straightness; state or quality of having a constant direction) · ks سؠزَر (straightness; state or quality of having a constant direction) · pl prostość (straightness; state or quality of having a constant direction) · es derechura (rightness of principle or practice) · ro rectitudine (straightness; state or quality of having a constant direction) · ro rectitudine (rightness of principle or practice) · ur درستی (straightness; state or quality of having a constant direction) · es rectitud (straightness; state or quality of having a constant direction) · fr droiture (rightness of principle or practice) · nl rechtlijnigheid (straightness; state or quality of having a constant direction) · la rectitūdō (straightness; state or quality of having a constant direction) · ca rectitud (rightness of principle or practice) · es rectitud (rightness of principle or practice) · fi vilpittömyys (rightness of principle or practice) · hi नायकी (rightness of principle or practice) · bg правилност (rightness of principle or practice) · it rettitudine (straightness; state or quality of having a constant direction) · hi पाकबाजी (straightness; state or quality of having a constant direction) · ks رٲستی (straightness; state or quality of having a constant direction) · pl prawość (rightness of principle or practice) · it rettitudine (rightness of principle or practice) · ru правота́ (rightness of principle or practice) · it dirittura (straightness; state or quality of having a constant direction) · ru прямота́ (straightness; state or quality of having a constant direction) · ro echitate (rightness of principle or practice) · fr rectitude (rightness of principle or practice) · it dirittura (rightness of principle or practice) · hi दुरुस्ती (straightness; state or quality of having a constant direction) · fa نیکوکاری (rightness of principle or practice) · fi rehtiys (rightness of principle or practice) · bg правота (straightness; state or quality of having a constant direction) · ks رٲستی (rightness of principle or practice) · eu zuzentasun (straightness; state or quality of having a constant direction) · la rectitūdō (rightness of principle or practice) · pt retidão (rightness of principle or practice) · ro rigoare (rightness of principle or practice) · ca rectitud (straightness; state or quality of having a constant direction) · fr rigueur (rightness of principle or practice) · ur پاکبازی (straightness; state or quality of having a constant direction) · fa درستکاری (straightness; state or quality of having a constant direction) · ru пра́вильность (rightness of principle or practice) · hi नाइकी (rightness of principle or practice) · fr rectitude (straightness; state or quality of having a constant direction) · ur نیکی (rightness of principle or practice)