rightly

[rahyt-lee]

adverb

1. in accordance with truth or fact; correctly.

   to see rightly; to understand rightly.

2. in accordance with morality or equity; uprightly.

3. properly, fitly, or suitably.

   to be rightly dressed.

4. Informal.,  with certainty; positively.

   I can't rightly say.

rightly

/ ˈraɪtlɪ /

adverb

1. in accordance with the facts; correctly

2. in accordance with principles of justice or morality

3. with good reason; justifiably

   he was rightly annoyed with her

4. properly or suitably; appropriately

   rightly dressed for a wedding

5. informal,  (used with a negative) with certainty; positively or precisely (usually in the phrases I don't rightly know, I can't rightly say )

Word History and Origins

Origin of rightly¹

before 900; Middle English; Old English rihtlīce. See right, -ly

Example Sentences

We rightly fear nuclear proliferation, and yet “amazing grace and good fortune,” and admirable postwar statecraft, “actually bent the arc of history.”

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A particularly heavy barrage floored Yarde and the champion was rightly penalised for the late punch.

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Microplastics are the current bete noire and rightly so, but we’re still in the dark about the causal calamity of a past era’s chemical polluting.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"And I have no doubt that I will rightly be judged against that at the next election."

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Mr. Loomis has sympathy for his subject, rightly observing that Jews of the era faced tremendous social and professional obstacles.

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Related Words

• accurately 
• appropriately 
• correctly www.thesaurus.com
• exactly 
• fairly 
• justly 
• properly 
• truly