▪ I. aright, adv., orig. phr.
(əˈraɪt)
Forms: 1–3 ariht, o riȝt, 3–4 ariȝt, aryȝt, 4 ariȝht(e, aryht, 4–6 aryght, 4– aright.
[f. a prep.1 + right n., OE. riht.]
1. In a right way or manner; rightly, justly, correctly, properly.
| c 970 Laws of Edgar Canon 67 (Bosw.) Ȝif man hit ariht asméaþ. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 89 Ȝif we hit ariht haldeð. c 1260 Fall & Passion 72 in E.E.P. (1862) 14 Ȝosep of arimathie: þat louid ihsu wel ariȝt. c 1386 Chaucer Frankl. Prol. 22 Ther he might leren gentillesse aright [v.r. aryht]. 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xviii. xii. (1495) 771 Euyll kynges that rulyth theym not a ryght. 1535 Coverdale Ps. lxxvii. 8 A generacion that set not their herte aright. 1627 P. Fletcher Locusts ii. xxv, Few step aright, but most goe with the croud. 1742 Young Nt. Th. i. 59 If heard aright, It is the knell of my departed hours. 1860 Tyndall Glac. ii. §29. 398 If I understand aright, this is the main argument. |
† 2. Straight, straightway. Obs. (Cf. rights.)
| c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 1299 Abraham was buxum o riȝt, Hise weie he tok sone bi niȝt. 1297 R. Glouc. 218 Ther were duntes aryȝt, and suerdes wel ydraw. c 1460 How a Marchande, etc. 237 in Hazl. E.P.P. 207 They on-dedyn the mouth aryght, There they sawe a ryalle syght. |
3. Right: a. Exactly, just (arch.). † b. Directly, straight, in a straight line (obs.).
| c 1386 Chaucer Prol. 267 His eyghen twynkeled in his heed aright, As don the sterres. 1571 Digges Geom. Pract. i. xviii. F b, Vntill the second marke offer it selfe aright betweene the extreeme part of your length and sight. 1611 Speed Hist. Gt. Brit. ix. xix. (1632) 936 He neuer after could indure to look aright on King Richard. 1850 Mrs. Browning Drama of Exile, Poems I. 89 Is it true besides—Aright true? |
† 4. Right, on the square: cf. a-wry. Obs.
| 1571 Digges Pantom. i. B iij b, If all the sides be equall, and no angle aright, then is it called Rombus. |
5. On the right (hand). arch. rare.
| 1795 Southey Joan of Arc vi. 308 Aright, aleft, The affrighted foemen scatter from his spear. |
▪ II. † aˈright, v. Obs.
[f. a- prefix 1 or 2 + right v. Cf. Ger. anrichten, einrichten, zurichten.]
To make right, to put to rights; to arrange or treat properly. Occas. ironically.
| c 1420 Chron. Vilod. 279 All wrongus to a ryȝt. c 1435 Torr. Portugal 1366 Such gestenyng he aright, That there he dwellid alle nyȝt. a 1500 Sir Gowghter 129 in Utterson E.P. I. 166 She bad him here pappe, And he ariȝhte here soo, He tare the oon side of here brest. |