Etymograph

English

right

Right comes from Middle English reȝt, from Old English reht, from Proto-Germanic *rehtaz, ultimately from PIE *h₃reǵ- ‘to straighten’.

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₃reǵ-‘to straighten’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₃reǵtós‘right’reconstructed
  3. Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*rehtaz‘right’reconstructed
  4. Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*reht‘straight’reconstructed
  5. Old Englishc. 450–1150reht
  6. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500reȝt
  7. Englishearliest quotation 1610right

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₃reǵ-‘to straighten’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₃reǵtós‘right’reconstructed
  3. Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*rehtaz‘right’reconstructed
  4. Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*reht‘straight’reconstructed
  5. Old Englishc. 450–1150reht
  6. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500reȝt
  7. Englishearliest quotation 1610right

Earliest quotation: 1610, John Locke, An Essay Concerning Human Understanding: “If there be no prospect beyond the grave, the…”

The story

The Germanic adjective which has been used also as a noun since the common Germanic period.

Linked words

through Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- ‘to straighten’

real, director, source, region, regular, rule, direction, direct, royal, correct, dress, rich, rank, regime, arrangement, roy, radar, arrange, rack, ana, rex, rogue, regulate, resurrection, interrogation, raj, erect, regent, rake, rector, regal, regency, insurrection, anorexia, rani, rajah, rhesus, droit, régime, dirge, 97 more

through Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵtós ‘right, straightened’

address, dresser, rectify, rectum, undress, dressage, rectification, recto, rectus, 5 more

Another origin of right

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₃reǵ-‘to straighten’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₃reǵtós‘right, straightened’reconstructed
  3. Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*rehtazreconstructed
  4. Proto-Germanic, derivedc. 500 BCE–200 CE*rehtareconstructed
  5. Old Englishc. 450–1150rihte
  6. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500right
  7. Englishtodaysame form

Another origin of right

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₃reǵt-‘to straighten’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₃reǵtomreconstructed
  3. Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*rehtą‘a right’reconstructed
  4. Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*reht‘right, privilege’reconstructed
  5. Old Englishc. 450–1150riht‘that which is right, just, or proper’
  6. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500right‘a good deed’
  7. Englishtodaysame form

Another origin of right

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₃reǵ-‘to straighten’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₃reǵtós‘right, straightened’reconstructed
  3. Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*rehtaz‘straight’reconstructed
  4. Proto-Germanic, derivedc. 500 BCE–200 CE*rihtijaną‘to straighten’reconstructed
  5. Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*rihtijan‘to straighten to set straight’reconstructed
  6. Old Englishc. 450–1150rihtan‘to straighten, judge, set upright, set right’
  7. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500righten
  8. Englishtodayright

Today it means

adj Designating the side of the body which is positioned to the east if one is facing north, the side on which the heart is not located in most humans. This arrow points to the reader's right: →

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- / right

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