Middle English Dictionary Entry
right-wīs(e adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | right-wīs(e adj. Also rightwisse, -ewise, -wish, -wes(se, rigthwis(e, rigt-, righwis, riȝtwis(e, riht-, rihtuis, rithwis, rit(e)-, reght- & (chiefly late) rightwos(se, -wous, -wus, -(e)uous, riȝtwus, rihtwos & (N and early) richtwise & (early) richwis, rihwise, riȝth-, ris(te)-, riþt-, (early infl.) rihtwisan, -wisen, -wisæ, richtwisen & (errors) ryghtyswis, ryȝtywys, rirthwise. |
| Etymology | OE: cp. WS, K riht-wīs, A reht-wīs. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Conforming to divine law, virtuous, holy, righteous; (b) of God: good, holy, just; ~ blod, innocent blood of Christ; ~ gost, the Holy Ghost; (c) just in all dealings, impartial, fair-minded, incorruptible; (d) of a king, an heir: lawful, legitimate, rightful.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)369 : Zacarie..& ȝho [Elizabeth] þatt wass hiss macche, Wærenn rihhtwise & gode menn.
- a1225(OE) Vsp.A.Hom.Init.Creat.(Vsp A.22)225 : Þu art richwis and me ȝecweme.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)41/17 : Ðu aust te folȝin ðane rihwise [read: rihtwise] and onfald Iob.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)138/17 : Me mei beon al to rihtwis.
- ?a1300 Jacob & J.(Bod 652)278 : Wel ouȝte we to heren him þat is riȝtwis.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)418 : Eue bar rigt-wise abel.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)1351 : Hus was eldest..Rigt-wis iob cam of his kin.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)1 Kings 24.18 : More riȝtwijs [WB(2): more iust; L Iustior] þou art þan I.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)21986 : Crist come..þe sinful for to mak rightwise [Phys-E: richtwise].
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)739 : For hit is wemlez, clene, and clere..And commune to alle þat ryȝtywys were.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)2/32 : Wha sal wne wid þe?..Þat rihtuis es of dede and rihtuis of speche in his hert of alle þing.
- a1425 Here begynnes a new (Roy 17.C.17)341 : The reght wys sons sall saved be.
- c1430(a1410) Love Mirror (Brsn e.9)294 : Therto myȝt no man come after he hadde synned..were he neuere so good and riȝtwys.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)3269 : Trewthe schuld com of rytwys kynne.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)1113 : Here fader was ryȝtwys to forthfulle þe lawe.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)281/22 : Þe domys of Almiȝtti God..sufferd..gude men & rightwus to hafe disease & tribulacion.
- c1460 Tree & Fruits HG (McC 132)117/17 : Fayth is þe lif of a rightwis soule.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)3 : He is not þe ritwisare þat is more in honor, but he þat [is] þe riȝtwisare, he is þe more.
- c1475-a1600(a1473) Fortescue Declaration (Clermont)525 : Edwarde that was so rightwos..tharfor is now a saynt canonized.
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)2.16.42a : Many of your fornfadres, þat wer ful holymen and rightwisch..wer here in purgatory.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)19 : He was mercifull and riȝtwis in his werkis.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)2/18 : High wordes makiþ not a man holy & riȝtwise, but virtuouse lif.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)10093 : Rightewise soules knoweþ wel Alle men and her werkis eueridel.
b
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)38/2 : God bið us itreowe, & eác swiðe rihtwis.
- a1225(?OE) Vsp.A.Hom.(Vsp A.22)239 : Wat sceol se senfulle don, þe isecgð þer his richtwise deme?
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)50/13 : For þe rihtwise [Cleo: richtwise] godd hit haueð swa idemet.
- a1275 Wolle ye i-heren (Trin-C B.14.39)41/74 : Þe riste-wise king..iborn was in an asse boss.
- c1390 Castle Love(1) (Vrn)63 : A child þer is iboren to vs..Whos nome schal inempned beon Wonderful..God, mihtful, and rihtwys.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)9737 : Fader, rightwisest dempster!
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)135 : How rightwes God es and how sothefast..Þis suld ilk man knaw and haf in mynde.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)46/19 : I hafe synned, betrayand riȝtwyse blude.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)905 : Ryghtwis [vr. rygh-wis] God to every lovere sende, Thatloveth trewely, more prosperite Than evere yit had Piramus and Tisbe!
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3989 : O rightwis riche Gode, this rewthe thow beholde!
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)3379 : Rythwys Kynge, Lord God almyth, I am þi dowtyr Rythwysnesse.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)312/159 : I haue..Betraied þat right-wisse bloode, Jesus.
- a1500(?a1400) Morte Arth.(2) (Hrl 2252)3740 : Ryghtwosse god, what is my Rede?
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)61/144 : Lyght shall be born that tyme in darke, Both to lawd man and to clark the luf of rightwys gost.
- a1500 Nicod.(4) (Hrl 149)75 : Y haue synned yn betrayenge of the ryghtwys bloode.
c
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)3259 : He wes swiðe soð-fest and swiðe wel iðæwed, rad-ful and rihtwis.
- (1437) RParl.4.510a : Our Soverain Lord..hadde ayen him..for divers causes that meved him and his rightwys Counseill.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)13/14 : He that is a rightwis [vr. rytewyse] iustice firste schulde iustifie himself.
- a1450 7 Sages(3) (Cmb Dd.1.17)2754 : Syre, ryghtwys emperour, Thou dost thy selven lytyl honour.
- c1450(c1386) Chaucer LGW Prol.(1) (Benson-Robinson)373 : This shoolde a ryghtwis [vr. ryghtwous] lord have in his thoght.
- a1500(c1400) St.Erk.(Hrl 2250)245 : I was ryȝtwis and reken and redy of þe laghe.
- a1500(a1450) Gener.(2) (Trin-C O.5.2)1322 : He was to them..rightwise in euery Iugement.
- a1500 Let.Alex.(Wor F.172)554 : We cam to Ceres, where most Rightwis folke of al maner of people is to be witnessed.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)3888 : Ruly & rightwise, a roghe man of hors, He spake neuer dispituosly.
d
- (1415) Doc.Conspir.Hen.V in D.K.R.43585 : Ye kenge is vndone quether he go or byde. And trewly..ryghtyswis kenge.
- (?c1436) Duke Burgundy (Rome 1306)62 : Þou did provow charles, rightwis king of france.
- c1460 MOTest.(Lngl 257)10676 : Rightwys heiere [Seld: Abiam..of þat reme was ryghest ayre].
- (1466-7) *Plea & Mem.R.Lond.GildhA.87.2d : Þe Rightwise Eires now late have ben grevously vexed & troubled.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)199/4 : Now, as thou arte oure ryghtwos kynge, rewe on this lady and on thy lyege peple.
- 1485(a1470) Malory Wks.(Caxton:Vinaver)12/21 : He wold of His grete mercy shewe some myracle..who shold be rightwys kynge of this reame.
2.
(a) In conformity with justice, just, fair, honest; rightful, legitimate; (b) in conformity with virtue or holiness, moral, holy; of a sacrifice: acceptable to God.
Associated quotations
a
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)49/6 : Hwa se ȝemelesliche wit hire uttre ehnen, þurh godes rihtwise [Pep: riȝthwise; Cleo: richte] dom ha ablindeð iþe inre.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Num.27.6 : Riȝtwis þyng askyn þe douȝtris of salffath.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Job 31.6 : Peise he me in a riȝtwis balaunce & wite god my symplenesse.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.625 : Peyne is sent by the rightwys [vr. rihtwise] sonde of god.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)8587 : Among his [Solomon's] riȝtwise domes rif, here how he felde a strif.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)13.10 : For, lauerd, night and dai In rightwise getinge es he ai.
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)490 : Is þis ryȝt-wys, þou renk, alle þy ronk noyse, So wroth for a wod-bynde to wax so sone?
- c1430(a1410) Love Mirror (Brsn e.9)13 : Man was exiled oute of the hiȝe Citee of heuene by the riȝtwis dome of all myȝty god.
- (1433) RParl.4.441b : He ne kan..other resort have..but unto your rightwise protection and defense.
- (1443) Will York in Sur.Soc.30130 : What somever that I have taken of ony man withouten rightwes title..I will that they [executors] make restitucion to them.
- (1444) RParl.5.112a : The..Defendauntz often tymes imaginen and pleden forein and fals Plees..to thentent to delay the rightwys and true Suytes of suche..Pleyntifs.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)141 : He þat..always wyrkes þat ryghtwis es..knaws þat þaire gude dedes ilkon Er of þe grace of god allon.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)512/16 : It is rightwus at þe brethur of our Lord be cled þerwith mor þan þou.
- (c1460) Let.Sou.in Sou.RS 22 (Sou SC.2/9/2)22 : His [King's] seide trywe & feithfull inhabitantes shall..spende the vttermest of ther goodes..for the defence of his rightwis title &..astate.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)171/34 : That is the ryghteuouse jugemente of God.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)592/26 : By mysadventure kynge Marke smote sir Amante thorow the body; and yet was sir Amaunte in the ryghtuous quarell.
- (1473) RParl.6.74a : Soo alwey that such Provisions and Exceptions..be goode and effectuell..for the equyte and rightwys reward that the Kyng entendeth to doo to every of his Subgiettes.
- a1500(?a1425) Chester Pl.Antichr.(Pen 399)512/616 : To dye ys myn entent..in cause that ys ryghtwyse.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)53/58 : Of all that newes me rightwys tend shall I gif the.
- a1500 Mirror Salv.(Beeleigh)p.149 : Of deth fande thay cause none Rightwise.
b
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)1063 : His offrand was Rightwys.
- a1425(?c1375) NHom.(3) Leg.(Hrl 4196)123/372 : Boy, þou ert he Þat stroies oure goddes..And gers my broþer..Leue right-wis trowth, to trow þi lay?
- (1455) RParl.5.286b : It like you to ordeigne..a suffisaunt..nombre of Lordes..to be of the said Consaill..as be approved of vertuouse and rightwesse disposition.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)58/69 : Take the a make And lyf in rightwys state.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)316/332 : That ilk veray brede of lyfe Becommys my fleshe in wordys fyfe..whoso it takys in rightwys lyfe Dy shall he neuer.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)27/19 : Maters of riȝtwys sorwe and of inwarde compunccion are oure synnes and oure vices.
3.
In phrase ~ man: (a) a righteous man, virtuous man; also, one of the elect; (b) a just man, an upright man.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)68/16 : Þis is þæt edlean þare rihtwisæ monnæ þe rihtlice leofedon.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)118 : Zacariȝe &..Elysabæþ..wærenn biforenn God Rihhtwise menn & gode.
- a1225(OE) Vsp.A.Hom.Init.Creat.(Vsp A.22)231 : He haueð ȝerimed rihtwisan mannan infer to his rice.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)143 : Ach þe richtwise men..sculen beon icleoped on þe fader riht halue.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)41/33 : Bute ȝie ðeses rihtwises mannes lif luuiȝen and folȝin, ne cume ȝe næure mo to ðare michele eadinesse.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)37 : He louede..holi kirke, and soth, and ricth; Rirth wise [?read: Ricth-wise] men he louede alle.
- a1350 Middelerd for mon (Hrl 2253)77 : He byt vs..wyþ ryhtwyse men to aryse.
- ?a1425(?c1350) NHom.(3) Pass.(RwlPoet 175)274 : Þe Lord of þe hows sall yhe fynde A ryghtwyse man of noble kynde.
- (a1382) WBible(1) Pref.Jer.(Bod 959)4.9 : In þe discripcioun of þe riȝtwise man..dauid comparisounde hym to a tree of lyf.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701:Sullens)11914 : Þe wey of lyff wyþouten ende, Out of ryghtwus mannes mouþe shal wende.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)15.495 : It is reuth to rede how riȝtwis [C: ryght holy] men lyued.
- a1425(?c1375) NHom.(3) Leg.(Hrl 4196)54/128 : Les Jams hir sun was þan And Josep, þat was namid rightwisman.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)306/5 : I schal telle þee..how greet difference it is bitwene þe deeþ of a synner and þe deeþ of a riȝtwiis man.
- (c1426) Audelay Poems (Dc 302)122/340 : Hel is not ordend fore ryȝtwyse mon.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)57/17 : In hevin thei haue grettir ioye of a soule retourned to God than of a rightwisman that euer was rigthwis.
- a1450(1410) This holy tyme make (Dgb 102)90 : Seuene syþes on þe day, Men seyn, the riȝtwis man doþ falle.
- a1450 Methodius(2) (Add 37049)111/29 : Þar sal be rightwismen [Meth.(1): iuste men] & synners.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)113/7 : Then schall tho riȝtwismen seyen, 'Lord, when sawe we the hungry and fedde the?'
b
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)1046 : Heo..bi-comen riht-wise [Otho: riþt-wise] men, & rædes heo luueden.
- a1450 Parton.(1) (UC C.188)8841 : He ys a ryghtwos man and full sage.
- a1500 Mandev.(3) (Rwl D.99)469 : They arn also riȝtwis men, sobre and mesurable in etynge and drynkynge.
4.
As noun: (a) a righteous person, just man; also, the righteous one, Christ; (b) coll. righteous persons, the just, the upright; also, the elect.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175(OE) Bod.Hom.Dom.Quadr.(Bod 343)48/1 : Þæs rihtwisen bed mycel fremeð ætforen Gode.
- a1225(OE) Vsp.A.Hom.Init.Creat.(Vsp A.22)217 : Heo is hefone liht and eorðe brihtnesse..mancenne hiht and hope, richtwisen strenhcþe, and niedfulle frouer.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)105/8 : Ðas rihtwises saule, Anima justi, iwis is godes sate.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)57/614 : Þu art rihtwises [Roy: rihtwise] weole & sunfules salue.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Wisd.10.6 : Þis [Wisdom] þe riȝtwis [WB(2): a iust man; L iustum] fro þe pershinge vnpitous men delyuerede.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Is.41.10 : Vndertooc þee þe riȝthond of my riȝtwis.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)689 : Of þys ryȝtwys saz Salamon playn How kyntly our [?read: Koyntis onoure] con aquyle.
- (1435) Misyn FL (Corp-O 236)62/39 : Truly god more displesis a ryghtwys prowd [L superbus iustus] þen a synnar meyk.
- a1450 PNoster R.Hermit (Westm-S 3)7/24 : Goddis iȝen ben euere on þe riȝtwise and his eeris listenande his preieris.
b
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)94/9 : Þonne scinæð þa rihtwise swa swa sunne on heore Fæder rice.
- a1225(?OE) Vsp.A.Hom.(Vsp A.22)239 : Þanne þe angles cwaciað and to [?read: þo] richtwise ham adredeð, wat sceol se senfulle don?
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)77/1 : Hit te scal bien forȝolden in resurrectione iustorum, ðat is, ðanne ðe rihtwise sculen arisen.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)30/34 : Ich hit am þet weorri a wið rihtwise [Roy: þe riht-wise].
- a1275 Doomsday (Trin-C B.14.39)29 : Þer stondeþ þe riȝtwise [vr. riswise] on his riȝt honde.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)1043 : Salt ðu nogt ðe rigt-wise weren?
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Is.1.26 : Þou shalt ben clepid þe cite of þe riȝtwis [WB(2): the riȝtful; L iusti].
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)18232 : Sir belzabuk Skorning þou o god angel, Despit of al rightwis and lel.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)1.6 : Þarfore wike in dome noght rise, Ne sinfulle in rede ofe rightwise.
- a1425 Cursor (Glb E.9)25246 : In þis point also we pray For all rightwiss on domesday.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)22.231 : Oure God þe Ryhtwos loveth Ryht Wel.
- ?c1450 in Aungier Syon Mon.365 : Eche saturday, in stede of the thre psalmes for the ryghtwes, seuen Pater nostres, [etc.].
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)103/22 : Þat he deme and enbrace rightwysse [Ashmole: rightfull men] and rightwysnesse, and þat he hate wronges & trespas.
5.
As surname.
Associated quotations
- (c1236) Cart.St.John in OHS 6896 : Johannes Rihtwise.
- (1322) Pat.R.Edw.II134 : James Ryghtwys.
- (1327) Sub.R.Som.in Som.RS 388 : Robertus le Ryghtwyse.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)161 : Godes wrake cumeð on þis woreld to wrekende on sunfulle men here gultes and forþæn on rihwise men þe hem neih wunien and binimeð hem hwile oref, hwile oðer aihte, and hwile here hele, and hwile here ogen lif.
Note: Additional quot. for sense 3.(a).
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?c1150 Aelfric Gloss.(Corp-C 303)439/426 : Arfæstan: rihtwisen.
Note: Quot. antedates word and belongs to sense 1.(a).
Note: (Context: Matthew 25: 40; Christ addresses the righteous.)
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500 ?Scrope Ribot First Monks (Lamb 192)15/15-16 : Wherfore þou owyst to louyn and to werkyn in the neybour be the wych he may be made rythwhos, ȝyf he be euyl or be the wych, ȝyf he be good, he may abyde rythwhos and good.
Note: New form: Also..rithwhos.
Note: Quot. belongs to sense 1.(a)
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (c1456) Paston2.167 : Me þinkith the bille and the matier right good and weel spoken accordyng to the trouthe of þeire riotous demenyng.
Note: New form: Also..riotous.
Note: Quot. belongs to sense 2.(a).--all notes per MLL