Where does “right” come from?
right (Middle English) comes from Old English riht, from Proto-West Germanic reht, from Proto-Germanic rehtaz, from Proto-Indo-European h₃reǵtós, from Proto-Indo-European h₃reǵ- — to straighten, to right oneself; right; just.
right (Middle English): A good deed, right action; A just or equitable...
Definitions
- A good deed, right action; A just or equitable...
Ancestry of “right”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old English | riht | straight; right, true, correct; rightful,... |
| 2 | Proto-West Germanic | reht | straight; right, correct; morally upright, just |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | rehtaz | right, straight; morally upright, just |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | h₃reǵtós | straightened, right, upright |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | h₃reǵ- | to straighten, to right oneself; right; just |