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Rightly vs Righteous - What's the difference?

rightly | righteous |

As an adverb rightly

is aright, in a right manner, correctly, justifiably.

As an adjective righteous is

free from sin or guilt.

As a verb righteous is

to make righteous; specifically, to justify religiously, to absolve from sin.

rightly

English

Adverb

(en-adv)
  • Aright, in a right manner, correctly, justifiably.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1909, author=Sidney Morse
    • , title= An Encyclopaedia of Practical Recipes and Processes , publisher=The Success Company, page=21 , passage=If rightly used, it will save a great deal of money in every household.}}
  • *{{quote-book, year=1922, author=(Ben Travers), title=(A Cuckoo in the Nest)
    • , chapter=2 citation , passage=Mother very rightly resented the slightest hint of condescension. She considered that the exclusiveness of Peter's circle was due not to its distinction, but to the fact that it was an inner Babylon of prodigality and whoredom,
  • * {{quote-news, year=2011, date=October 1, author=Saj Chowdhury, work=BBC Sport
    • , title= Wolverhampton 1-2 Newcastle , passage=Steven Fletcher headed in for Wolves late on, who were denied a penalty and what appeared to be a legitimate equaliser in stoppage time.
    Wolves boss Mick McCarthy will rightly be aggrieved by those two decisions.}}

    righteous

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (l), (l)

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • free from sin or guilt
  • moral and virtuous, suggesting sanctimonious
  • justified morally
  • (slang, US) awesome

    • Derived terms

    * righteousness * self-righteous

    Verb

    (es)
  • To make righteous; specifically, to justify religiously, to absolve from sin.
  • * 2009 , (Diarmaid MacCulloch), A History of Christianity , Penguin 2010, p. 101:
    • Thus for the purposes of being ‘righteoused ’, the Law was irrelevant; yet Paul could not bear to see all the Law disappear.