rightfulness
(ˈraɪtfʊlnɪs)
Forms: see rightful a.; also 4–6 -nes, 4–7 -nesse.
[-ness.]
† 1. = righteousness 1. Obs.
Until c 1400 the Vulg. justitia was frequently translated as ‘rightfulness’.
| 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 600–1 Yn þe touþer werlde..Þere ys but ryȝtfulnes of dome; Þere ys al ryȝtfulnes at þe last ende. a 1325 Prose Psalter xxxix. [xl.] 13 Y ne hyd nouȝt þy ryȝtfulnes in myn hert. 1388 Wyclif Gen. xviii. 19 That thei kepe the weie of the Lord, and..do riȝtfulnesse and dom. 1422 tr. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv. 147 The Ryghtfulnes of workis or of dedis comyth and rysyth of Ryghtfulnesse of wille. c 1460 J. Metham Wks. (E.E.T.S.) 94 The fourthe lyne..sygnyfyith ryteffulnes and enduryng in gode werkes..and vertu. 1532 G. Hervet Xenophon (1768) 58 Do you in dede take vpon you to teach them that iustice and ryghtefulnes? a 1586 Sidney Ps. xxxiii. i, Rejoyce in God, O ye That..cherish rightfullnesse. 1594 Carew Huarte's Exam. Wits (1616) 204 The rightfulnesse and singlenesse of the vnderstanding, which admitteth no doublenesse. |
| personif. a 1325 Prose Psalter lxxx[i]v. 14 Ryȝtfulnes shal go to-fore hym, and shal sett his goings in his waie. a 1470 H. Parker Dives & Pauper (W. de W. 1496) 329/2 Ryghtfull dome is tourned bacwarde, & ryghtfulnesse stode from ferre. c 1557 Abp. Parker Ps. xxv. 59 Let perfectnes and rightfulnes both guide and wayte on mee. |
† b. pl. = righteousness 1 b.
Obs.| a 1325 Prose Psalter xviii. [xix.] 9 Þe ryȝtfulnesses of our Lord ben makand ioyful ryȝtlich þe hertes. 1388 Wyclif Deut. iv. 5 Y tauȝte ȝou the comaundementis and riȝtfulnessis, as my Lord God comaundide to me. |
† 2. Of stature: Erectness, uprightness.
rare—1.
| 1387 Trevisa tr. Higden (Rolls) II. 213 In mannis body was..riȝtfullnesse of stature, fairenesse of schappe. |
3. The fact of being right or just; the justness or equity
of something.
| 1676 G. Towerson Decalogue 265 The rightfulness of princes pleas. 1736 Plea for Sacram. Test 48 None of their Tenets..will incline them to dispute the Rightfulness of the present Civil Settlement. 1821 Coleridge Lett., Convers., etc. II. 36 Those women..who feel the rightfulness of their own claim to be loved with honor. 1879 M{supc}Carthy Own Times xxviii. II. 334 The men who are to carry on a war must have no doubt of its rightfulness of purpose. |