ˈrighteousness
Forms: see righteous a.; also 1 -nysse, 1, 4 -nys, -nisse; 1–7 -nesse, 1, 4–7 -nes (5 Sc. -nese), 5 -nasse.
[OE. reht-, riht-, ryhtw{iacu}snisse: see righteous a. + -ness.]
1. Justice, uprightness, rectitude; conformity of life to the requirements of the divine or moral law; virtue, integrity.
| α c 825 Vesp. Ps. iv. 6 Onsecᵹað onseᵹdnisse rehtwisnisse [L. justitiæ]. Ibid. xcvii[i]. 9 Doemæð ymbhwyrf eorðan in rehtwisnisse. c 897 K. ælfred Gregory's Past. C. xlix. 380 Dryhten,..ðine ryhtwisnesse ic ne diᵹle on minre heortan. c 1000 Ags. Gosp. Matt. xxi. 32 Iohannes com on rihtwisnesse weᵹe, and ᵹe ne ᵹelyfdon him. a 1122 O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.) an. 1086, Hi nellað lufian God & rihtwisnesse. c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 109 Of þe is arisen þe sunne of rihtwisenesse. c 1230 Hali Meid. 41 Þe uertuz þat he streoneð in þe þurh his swete grace, as rihtwisnesse. a 1300 Cursor M. 1640 Þe erth wit sin and scham es schent, Al rightwisnes awai es went. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) V. 7 For so greet riȝtwisnesse it semeþ þat Seint Gregorie wan his soule out of helle. c 1400 Mandeville (Roxb.) xv. 67 Godd þan had done agayne his riȝtwisnesse for to suffer swilk ane innocent die withouten gilt. 1482 Monk of Evesham (Arb.) 64 He sofryd by cause that often tymes he peruerted ryght⁓wesnes as a man myghty in wordys takyng geftys. 1535 Coverdale Rev. xix. 11 He..was called faithfull and true, & in rightewesnes dyd iudge. 1577–87 Holinshed Chron. III. 1174 Wrong decaieth still, and rightwisenesse vp stands. |
| β 1523 [Coverdale] Old God (1534) E viij, Justinianus..was so great a louer of iustice and rightuousness, that [etc.]. 1596 Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. vi. 326 marg., He is a manteiner of pietie and richtuousnes. |
| γ 1535 Coverdale Deut. vi. 25 It shall be righteousnes vnto vs before the Lorde oure God. 1556 Olde Antichrist 105 Christ expresseth him selfe to be our only righteousnesse. 1628 Wither Brit. Rememb. v. 780, I finde a better righteousness imputed Then I have lost. 1667 Milton P.L. xii. 550 Ages of endless date Founded in righteousness. 1738 Wesley Ps. li. 7 All my Powers shall join to bless The Lord, my Strength and Righteousness. 1781 Cowper Truth 576, I never..hop'd, but in thy righteousness divine. 1858 Trench Par. xii. (1877) 241 What this guest wanted was righteousness both in its root of faith and its flower of charity. 1875 J. P. Hopps Princ. Relig. ix. 28 Righteousness is obedience to law, observance of duty, and fidelity to conscience. |
| personif. c 825 Vesp. Psalter lxxx[i]v. 14 Rehtwisnis biforan him gongeð & seteð in weᵹe gongas his. a 1225 Ancr. R. 304 On oðer half stont rihtwisnesse, þet no reouðe nis mide, dredful & grureful uorto biholden. a 1300 E.E. Psalter lxxx[i]v. 11 Rightwisenes and pais kissed ere swa. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xviii. 197 Aȝeines resoun, I, riȝtwis⁓nesse, recorde þus with treuth, Þat her peyne be perpetuel. c 1420 Lydg. Assembly of Gods 795 At the furst corner was Ryghtwysnes that tyde. 1653 Milton Ps. lxxxv. 53 Before him Righteousness shall go His Royal Harbinger. |
† b. pl. Particular acts of justice; righteous deeds.
Obs.| c 825 Vesp. Psalter cxviii. 16 In ðinum rehtwisnissum ic smegu. c 1000 ælfric Hom. II. 532 Hwi bodast ðu mine riht⁓wisnyssa and mine ᵹecyðnysse þurh þinne muð? a 1300 E.E. Psalter xviii. 9 Rightwisenesses ofe lauerd [are] right, hertes fainand. a 1340 Hampole Psalter x. 8 Rightwis is lord, and he lufid rightwisnessis. a 1400 Prymer (1891) 19 Riȝtwysnesses of the lord. 1535 Coverdale Baruch ii. 12 We haue behaued oure selues vngodly in all thy rightuousnesses. 1611 Bible Isa. lxiv. 6 We are al as an vncleane thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy ragges. |
† 2. Fitness; propriety.
Obs. rare.
| 1481 Caxton Myrr. i. ix. 34 Rethoryque whyche conteyneth in substaunce, rightwisnes, Rayson and ordynaunce of wordes. |