rectitude

Middle English, from Middle French rectitude, from Late Latin rectitūdō (“straightness, uprightness”), from Latin rectus (“straight”), perfect passive participle of regō (“regulate, guide”).

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈɹɛk.tɪ.tjuːd/, /ˈɹɛk.tə.tjuːd/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈɹɛk.tə.tuːd/, /ˈɹɛk.tə.tjuːd/

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rectitude (countable and uncountable, plural rectitudes)

1. Straightness; the state or quality of having a constant direction and not being crooked or bent. [from 15th c.]
2. (now rare) The fact or quality of being right or correct; correctness of opinion or judgement. [from 15th c.]
   • 2010, Christopher Hitchens, Hitch-22, Atlantic 2011, p. 98:

     A consciousness of rectitude can be a terrible thing, and in those days I didn't just think that I was right: I thought that “we” (our group of International Socialists in particular) were being damn well proved right.

3. Conformity to the rules prescribed for moral conduct; (moral) uprightness, virtue. [from 16th c.]
   • 1776 July 4, Thomas Jefferson, et al., United States Declaration of Independence:

     We, therefore, the Repreſentatives of the united States of America, in General Congreſs, Aſsembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of theſe Colonies, ſolemnly publiſh and declare, That theſe United Colonies are, and of right ought to be Free and Independent States […]

   • 1986, John le Carré, A Perfect Spy:

     “Sit with her all night if we have to,” Syd affirms with strenuous rectitude.

• For more examples of usage of this term, see Citations:rectitude.

• (rightness of principle): honesty, integrity, morality

• rectitude in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

• certitude

From Late Latin rectitūdō (“straightness, uprightness”), from Latin rectus (“straight”), perfect passive participle of regō (“regulate, guide”).

• IPA^(key): /ʁɛk.ti.tyd/
• Homophone: rectitudes
• Hyphenation: rec‧ti‧tude

rectitude f (plural rectitudes)

1. rectitude

• rectitude politique

• “rectitude” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

• certitude