rec·ti·tude

(rĕk′tĭ-to͞od′, -tyo͞od′)

1. Moral uprightness; righteousness.

2. The quality or condition of being correct in judgment.

3. The quality of being straight.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Late Latin rēctitūdō, from Latin rēctus, straight; see reg- in Indo-European roots.]

rec′ti·tu′di·nous adj.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

rectitude

(ˈrɛktɪˌtjuːd)

1. moral or religious correctness

2. correctness of judgment

[C15: from Late Latin rectitūdō, from Latin rectus right, straight, from regere to rule]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

rec•ti•tude

(ˈrɛk tɪˌtud, -ˌtyud)

n.

1. rightness of principle or conduct; moral virtue; righteousness.

2. correctness.

3. straightness.

[1400–50; < Middle French < Late Latin rēctitūdō straightness < Latin rēct(us) right]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

rectitude - righteousness as a consequence of being honorable and honest

uprightness

righteousness - adhering to moral principles

rectitude

noun

1. morality, principle, honour, virtue, decency, justice, equity, integrity, goodness, honesty, correctness, righteousness, probity, incorruptibility, scrupulousness, uprightness people of the utmost rectitude
morality corruption, dishonesty, immorality, dishonour, baseness, scandalousness

2. correctness, justice, accuracy, precision, verity, rightness, soundness, exactness Has the rectitude of this principle ever been formally contested?

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

rectitude

noun

The quality or state of being morally sound:

good, goodness, morality, probity, righteousness, rightness, uprightness, virtue, virtuousness.

Translations

rectitude

onest...

rectitude

[ˈrektɪtjuːd] N (frm) → rectitud f

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

rectitude

n → Rechtschaffenheit f

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

rectitude

[ˈrɛktɪˌtjuːd] n (frm) → rettitudine f

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

The sincerity, rectitude, firmness, and sweetness of this soft glance of a noble woman, who could dare all to save him to whom she owed all, at first astonished, then penetrated him.

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Her disappointment in Charlotte made her turn with fonder regard to her sister, of whose rectitude and delicacy she was sure her opinion could never be shaken, and for whose happiness she grew daily more anxious, as Bingley had now been gone a week and nothing more was heard of his return.

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The rectitude of anything consists in its equality; that therefore which is equally right will be advantageous to the whole state, and to every member of it in common.

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But rectitude scatters favors on every side without knowing it, and receives with wonder the thanks of all people.

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Has it been found that bodies of men act with more rectitude or greater disinterestedness than individuals?

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What has she given you?" he continued hurriedly, evidently no longer trying to show the advantages of peace and discuss its possibility, but only to prove his own rectitude and power and Alexander's errors and duplicity.

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She was now enough aware of Sir James's position with regard to her, to appreciate the rectitude of his perseverance in a landlord's duty, to which he had at first been urged by a lover's complaisance, and her pleasure in it was great enough to count for something even in her present happiness.

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Elinor saw, and pitied her for, the neglect of abilities which education might have rendered so respectable; but she saw, with less tenderness of feeling, the thorough want of delicacy, of rectitude, and integrity of mind, which her attentions, her assiduities, her flatteries at the Park betrayed; and she could have no lasting satisfaction in the company of a person who joined insincerity with ignorance; whose want of instruction prevented their meeting in conversation on terms of equality, and whose conduct toward others made every shew of attention and deference towards herself perfectly valueless.

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She was not theologically instructed enough to discern very clearly the relation between the sacred documents of the past which she opened without method, and her own obscure, simple life; but the spirit of rectitude, and the sense of responsibility for the effect of her conduct on others, which were strong elements in Nancy's character, had made it a habit with her to scrutinize her past feelings and actions with self-questioning solicitude.

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He then rose from his knee, folded his arm on his bosom, and in a manner rather respectful than submissive, awaited the answer of the King, like one who is conscious he may have given offence, yet is confident in the rectitude of his motive.

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We were glad to hear you speak in that manner; for it is pleasing to think that such a sentiment of delicacy and rectitude, and which did not exist, it seems, in our minds, lives in our children; and it is delightful too, to see a young man, at an age when men from habit become the destroyers of the honor of women, respect and defend it."

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Young as he is, that lad's notions of moral rectitude I defy you ever to eradicate."

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