righteous

Etymology

From earlier rightuous, rightwose, rightwos, rightwise, from Middle English rightwise, rightwis, from Old English rihtwīs (“righteous, just”), corresponding to right + -wise (with assimilation of second element to -ous), or to right + wise (“way, manner”). Cognate with Scots richtwis (“righteous”), Old High German rehtwīsic (“righteous, just”), Icelandic réttvíss (“righteous, just”). Compare also thefteous, mighteous.

adj

1. Free from sin or guilt.
2. Moral and virtuous, to the point of sanctimony.
   Human beings should take a righteous path, and so should art. We should promote kindness and beauty through art.
3. Justified morally.
   righteous indignation
4. (slang, US) Awesome; great.
   The sportos, the motorheads, geeks, sluts, bloods, wastoids, dweebies, dickheads - they all adore him. They think he's a righteous dude. 1986, John Hughes, Ferris Bueller's Day Off (Motion Picture), spoken by Grace Wheelberg (Edie McClurg)
   He sold me a bulging paper sack full of Cambodian Red for two dolla' MPC. A strange experience, copping from a kid, but it was righteous weed. 1995, Norman L. Russell, Doug Grad, Suicide Charlie: A Vietnam War Story, page 191
   Tonight the kids will go out and party down in a more righteous mode. Alcohol and not a few tabs of X will be ingested. Club music will throb through big speakers. 2008, Stephen King, Graduation Afternoon
5. (slang, US) Major; large; significant.
   He found Richard in one piece near a large circular container, thankfully, staring at a righteous mess of blood and gore. 2021, G. S. Jennsen, Amaranthe V: Riven

verb

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