English
rectify
Rectify comes from Medieval Latin rēctificō ‘to make right’, from Latin rēctus ‘straight’, and ultimately from Proto-Italic *rektos.
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*rektosreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEregō‘to keep or lead straight, to guide’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CErēctus‘straight’
- Medieval Latinc. 600–1500rēctificō‘to make right’
- Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400rectifiier
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500rectifien
- Englishearliest quotation 1646rectify
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*rektosreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEregō‘to keep or lead straight, to guide’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CErēctus‘straight’
- Medieval Latinc. 600–1500rēctificō‘to make right’
- Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400rectifiier
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500rectifien
- Englishearliest quotation 1646rectify
Earliest quotation: 1646, Sir Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica: “For thus their Sense informeth them, and herein their…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- ‘to straighten, direct’
real, rich, royal, regular, regional, rank, arrangement, roy, direction, resource, radar, correct, arrange, rack, ana, rogue, ruler, righteous, regiment, upright, rightly, rex, raj, interrogation, directory, rake, rightful, regal, regimen, regency, rani, anorexia, rector, rajah, rhesus, eldritch, rightness, riel, aright, dirigible, 76 more
through Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵtós ‘having moved in a straight line’
through Latin regō ‘to keep or lead straight, to guide’
source, rule, region, director, dress, direct, regime, realm, regulate, regent, resurrection, erect, insurrection, incorrigible, droit, régime, irregularity, dirge, regula, corregidor, regio, derecho, 47 more
through Latin rēctus ‘straight’
address, dresser, undress, dressage, rectum, rectus, recto, 6 more
Today it means
verb To heal (an organ or part of the body).
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Italic *rektos / rectify