orig. phr. Forms: 1–3 ariht, o riȝt, 3–4 ariȝt, aryȝt, 4 ariȝht(e, aryht, 4–6 aryght, 4– aright. [f. A prep.1 + RIGHT sb., OE. riht.]
1. In a right way or manner; rightly, justly, correctly, properly.
c. 970. Laws of Edgar, Canon 67 (Bosw.). Ȝif man hit ariht asméaþ.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 89. Ȝif we hit ariht haldeð.
c. 1260. Fall & Passion, 72, in E. E. P. (1862), 14. Ȝosep of arimathie: þat louid ihsu wel ariȝt.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Frankl. Prol., 22. Ther he might leren gentillesse aright [v.r. aryht].
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVIII. xii. (1495), 771. Euyll kynges that rulyth theym not a ryght.
1535. Coverdale, Ps. lxxvii. 8. A generacion that set not their herte aright.
1627. P. Fletcher, Locusts, II. xxv. Few step aright, but most goe with the croud.
1742. Young, Nt. Th., I. 59. If heard aright, It is the knell of my departed hours.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., II. § 29. 398. If I understand aright, this is the main argument.
† 2. Straight, straightway. Obs. (Cf. RIGHTS.)
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 1299. Abraham was buxum o riȝt, Hise weie he tok sone bi niȝt.
1297. R. Glouc., 218. Ther were duntes aryȝt, and suerdes wel ydraw.
c. 1460. How a Marchande, etc., 237, in Hazl., E. P. P., 207. They on-dedyn the mouth aryght, There they sawe a ryalle syght.
3. Right: a. Exactly, just (arch.). † b. Directly, straight, in a straight line (obs.).
c. 1386. Chaucer, Prol., 267. His eyghen twynkeled in his heed aright, As don the sterres.
1571. Digges, Geom. Pract., I. xviii. F b. Vntill the second marke offer it selfe aright betweene the extreeme part of your length and sight.
1611. Speed, Hist. Gt. Brit., IX. xix. (1632), 936. He neuer after could indure to look aright on King Richard.
1850. Mrs. Browning, Dram. Exile, Poems, I. 89. Is it true besides—Aright true?
† 4. Right, on the square: cf. A-WRY. Obs.
1571. Digges, Pantom., I. B iij b. If all the sides be equall, and no angle aright, then is it called Rombus.
5. On the right (hand). arch. rare.
1795. Southey, Joan of Arc, VI. 308. Aright, aleft, The affrighted foemen scatter from his spear.
