Synonyms Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for rectify on Thesaurus.com verb (used with object), rec·ti·fied, rec·ti·fy·ing. to make, put, or set right; remedy; correct: He sent them a check to rectify his account. to put right by adjustment or calculation, as an instrument or a course at sea. Chemistry to purify (especially a spirit or liquor) by repeated distillation. Electricity to change (an alternating current) into a direct current. to determine the length of (a curve). Astronomy , Geography to adjust (a globe) for the solution of any proposed problem. Show More
Origin of rectify 1350–1400; Middle English rectifien <
Middle French rectifier <
Medieval Latin rēctificāre, equivalent to
Latin rēct(us )
right +
-ificāre -ify Related forms non·rec·ti·fied , adjective self-rec·ti·fy·ing , adjective un·rec·ti·fied , adjective Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words for rectify amend ,
fix ,
remedy ,
redress ,
improve ,
repair ,
right ,
scrub ,
doctor ,
reform ,
launder ,
debug ,
adjust ,
square ,
mend ,
emend ,
revise ,
recalibrate Examples from the Web for rectify Contemporary Examples of rectify He says he never did the work for money, but instead to rectify that destruction he observed.
And when that culture still holds onto sexist views of women, even attempts to rectify this imbalance can backfire.
If I had one wish here, it would be for Aden Young to sneak a surprise nod for Rectify .
TV: Rectify , Sundance Channel Is Rectify the best new show on TV?
And should a silly, sometimes slight comedy like Veep be excised to include yet another harrowing drama, Rectify ?
Historical Examples of rectify My conduct must then have a faulty appearance at least, and I will endeavour to rectify it.
Mistakes are hard to rectify after a fatal volley has been fired.
He discovered the mistake when it was too late to rectify it.
However, he saw his mistake in an instant and tried to rectify it.
Is there a confusion in the figure, he advances to rectify it with a chass rigadoon.
British Dictionary definitions for rectify verb -fies , -fying or -fied (tr) to put right; correct; remedy to separate (a substance) from a mixture or refine (a substance) by fractional distillation to convert (alternating current) into direct current maths to determine the length of (a curve) to cause (an object) to assume a linear motion or characteristic Show More
Derived Forms rectifiable , adjective rectification , noun Word Origin for rectify C14: via Old French from Medieval Latin rectificāre to adjust, from Latin rectus straight + facere to make
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for rectify v. c.1400, from Old French rectifier, literally "to make straight" (14c.), from Late Latin rectificare "make right," from Latin rectus "straight" (see right (adj.1)) + root of facere "to make" (see factitious ). Related: Rectified ; rectifying .
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
To set right; correct. To refine or purify, especially by distillation. Show More
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
