Definition of "right"

If there be no prospect beyond the grave, the inference is certainly right, "Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die."

1610, John Locke, An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, Book II

there are some dispositions blame-worthy in men, which are yet, in a right sense, holily ascribed unto God; as unchangeableness, and irrepentance.

1808, Bishop Joseph Hall, Devotional works

What do you send me into London for, giving me only the right to call for my dinner at the Black Lion, which you’re to pay for next time you go, as if I was not to be trusted with a few shillings? Why do you use me like this? It’s not right of you. You can’t expect me to be quiet under it.

1841, Charles Dickens, chapter 13, in Barnaby Rudge

Sam Tyler: Look, look, you know when I said I wasn't wrong? Well, I was. But I was right about this not being the IRA. I was right to follow my instincts. Like you said, go with your gut feeling. I'm just taking your lead.Gene Hunt: So I'm right.Sam Tyler: We both are.Gene Hunt: Right.Sam Tyler: Right.Gene Hunt: Just as long as I'm more right than you.

2007 March 6, Julie Rutterford, Life on Mars, Season 2, Episode 3

But when that patient requests access to medical care that violates some religious tenet, is it right that he or she either be denied outright or forced to seek an alternative facility?

2018 January 4, Catherine Ford, “Religious-Based Health Care Raises Ethical Questions”, in Calgary Herald

He's got a wicked sense of fun, he can be a right laugh, he's ever so broadminded – ooh, and he's got a lovely broad chest too.

2016, Sarah Harvey, A Laugh-out-loud Modern Love Story

[…] in this battle and whole business the Britons never more plainly manifested themselves to be right barbarians: no rule, no foresight, no forecast, experience, or estimation

1670, John Milton, The History of Britain

Kirsty: I suppose you're hungry. Would you like something to eat?Ken: No. I'm right, thanks.

1986, David Williamson, “What If You Died Tomorrow”, in Collected plays, volume 1, Currency Press, page 310

When the sales assistant sees the customer, she asks Are you right, sir? This means Are you all right? She wants to know if he needs any help.

2001, Catherine Menagé, Access to English, National Centre for English Language Teaching and Research, NSW: Sydney, page 25

'You lost?'Colin spun round. Looking at him was a nurse, her eyebrows raised. / 'No, I'm right, thanks,' said Colin.'

2001, Morris Gleitzman, Two weeks with the Queen, Pan Macmillan Australia, page 75

The lady has been disappointed on the right side.

c. 1707, “Joseph Addison”, in The Tatler

Then there came a reg'lar terror of a sou'wester same as you don't get one summer in a thousand, and blowed the shanty flat and ripped about half of the weir poles out of the sand. We spent consider'ble money getting 'em reset, and then a swordfish got into the pound and tore the nets all to slathers, right in the middle of the squiteague season.

1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, chapter 1, in Mr. Pratt's Patients

a right godly treatise

1549, John Calvin, Of the life or conuersation of a Christen man, a right godly treatise

That's long enough for any small town." Lyon leaned forward. "Do you like Lawrenceville, Mr. Hill?" The driver cocked his head. "Aeah. Why not? Born here. It's a right nice town

1966, Jacqueline Susann, Valley of the Dolls‎, page 214

Well, that would be right neighborly of you, miss.

2004, Jon Sharpe, Nebraska nightmare

But it would be right neighborly and Christian of you to put your own wants aside for a spell.

2008, Luke Cypher, Red Mesa, page 101

The fog was right hard to see through so I was on Tom Pritchard before I saw him.

2011, Ann Hite, Ghost on Black Mountain

Kids nowadays were a right thrillproof bunch. The Armoury Section had, unexpectedly, proved to be a real moodclunker.

2015, Jeff Torrington, Swing Hammer Swing!, page 255

Sith mercie in a Prince reſembleth right,The gladſome ſunne-ſhine in a winters day, […]

1593, anonymous author, The Life and Death of Iacke Straw […], Act IV

He b'iled right over, and the tongue-lashing he give that boss Right Liver beat anything I ever listened to. There was heap of Scriptur' language in it, and more brimstone than you'd find in a match factory.

1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, chapter 13, in Mr. Pratt's Patients

Sam Tyler: Look, look, you know when I said I wasn't wrong? Well, I was. But I was right about this not being the IRA. I was right to follow my instincts. Like you said, go with your gut feeling. I'm just taking your lead.Gene Hunt: So I'm right.Sam Tyler: We both are.Gene Hunt: Right.Sam Tyler: Right.Gene Hunt: Just as long as I'm more right than you.

2007 March 6, Julie Rutterford, Life on Mars, Season 2, Episode 3

Tell her you’re here.Right. Thanks, Pete. Audio (US)(file)

2016, VOA Learning English (public domain)

Sam Tyler: Look, look, you know when I said I wasn't wrong? Well, I was. But I was right about this not being the IRA. I was right to follow my instincts. Like you said, go with your gut feeling. I'm just taking your lead.Gene Hunt: So I'm right.Sam Tyler: We both are.Gene Hunt: Right.Sam Tyler: Right.Gene Hunt: Just as long as I'm more right than you.

2007 March 6, Julie Rutterford, Life on Mars, Season 2, Episode 3

Withnail: Right […] I'm gonna do the washing up.

1987, Withnail and I

Throughout our history, whenever evil forces prevailed, the altruistic and upright people have always shown their great wisdom by adhering to the right against the wrong, renouncing wrongful gain for justice, displaying their great benevolence in national salvation and summoning their great courage to surmount the crisis and turn back the perverse tide.

1973 July 22 , Kai-shek Chiang, “President Chiang Kai-shek's message to the mass rally supporting Captive Nations Week”, in Free China Weekly‎, volume XIV, number 28, Taipei, page 1

There are no rights whatever, without corresponding duties.

1825, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Table Talk

"I do not know that you have any right to inquire into reasons for my conduct. I am at least sure that I never gave you any such right," replied Wiley."I claim no right but the common right of humanity," said the old gentleman. "If you do not acknowledge that, my interference in this matter can only be viewed as impertinent."

1850, T. S. Arthur, “Seed Time and Harvest”, in Sketches of Life and Character‎, Philadelphia: J. W. Bradley, page 130

Ivor had acquired more than a mile of fishing rights with the house ; he was not at all a good fisherman, but one must do something ; one generally, however, banged a ball with a squash-racket against a wall.

1922, Michael Arlen, “3/19/2”, in “Piracy”: A Romantic Chronicle of These Days

Policing the relationship between government and business in a free society is difficult. Businesspeople have every right to lobby governments, and civil servants to take jobs in the private sector.

2013 August 10, Schumpeter, “Cronies and capitols”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8848

"Before he could strike again, however, I got in my right, and he was sprawling on his back on the floor."

1897, Bram Stoker, Dracula, published 1993, page 129

Sunak seems so scared of his party's swivel-eyed right wing that he has been panicked into focusing all new legislation on perceived 'red meat' issues which he hopes the Tory right will support.

2023 May 31, Nigel Harris, “Comment: GBR now! We have no Plan B”, in RAIL, number 984, page 3

Simple cross-stitch, with a space between each stitch, may be worked in two rows, in which case the completed stitch on the wrong sides alternates with that on the right.

1890, The Woman's World, page 434

For the large size, two pieces of silk, eighteen inches wide and twenty-seven inches long, are sewed together at three sides, rights together, leaving one end open.

1913, Woman's Home Companion - Volume 40, page 40

In case there is a right and wrong side to the tops, put two rights together.

1918, Pacific Rural Press - Volume 95, page 392

So just is God, to right the innocent.

c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals)

All experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.

1776, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Declaration of Independence