rightly

Meanings

1. 1
   adv

   Correctly; for good reason.

   She was quite rightly disappointed at not being promoted.

2. 2
   adv

   In a fair or just way.

   The award was rightly given to the hardest worker on the team.

From Middle English ryȝtly, rihtliche, from Old English rihtlīċe, from Proto-West Germanic *rehtalīkā, *rehtalīkō, from Proto-Germanic *rehtalīkê, *rehtalīkô (“rightly”), equivalent to right + -ly. Cognate with West Frisian rjochtlik, Dutch rechtelijk, German rechtlich, Swedish rätteligen, Icelandic réttilega.

Topics