rightful

  • 1Rightful — Right ful, a. 1. Righteous; upright; just; good; said of persons. [Obs.] Chaucer. [1913 Webster] 2. Consonant to justice; just; as, a rightful cause. [1913 Webster] 3. Having the right or just claim according to established laws; being or holding …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 2rightful — [rīt′fəl] adj. 1. fair and just; right 2. having a just, lawful claim, or right [the rightful owner] 3. belonging or owned by just or lawful claim, or by right [a rightful rank] 4. proper or fitting rightfully adv. rightfulness n …

    English World dictionary

  • 3rightful — I adjective according to law, allowable, allowed, appropriate, authentic, authorized, becoming, befitting, chartered, constitutional, correct, deserved, due, enfranchised, equitable, fair, fitting, genuine, honest, inalienable, iustus, just,… …

    Law dictionary

  • 4rightful — O.E. rihtful; see RIGHT (Cf. right) (adj.1) + FUL (Cf. ful). Related: Rightfully …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 5rightful — *due, condign Analogous words: *fair, equitable, just, impartial: *lawful, legal, legitimate …

    New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • 6rightful — [adj] legitimate applicable, appropriate, apt, authorized, befitting, bona fide, canonical, card carrying*, condign, deserved, due, ethical, fair, fit, fitting, holding water, honest, just, kosher*, lawful, legal, legit*, merited, moral,… …

    New thesaurus

  • 7rightful — ► ADJECTIVE 1) having a legitimate right to something. 2) legitimately claimed; fitting. DERIVATIVES rightfully adverb rightfulness noun …

    English terms dictionary

  • 8rightful — [[t]ra͟ɪtfʊl[/t]] ADJ: ADJ n If you say that someone or something has returned to its rightful place or position, they have returned to the place or position that you think they should have. The Baltics own democratic traditions would help them… …

    English dictionary

  • 9rightful — adjective Date: 14th century 1. just, equitable 2. a. having a just or legally established claim ; legitimate < the rightful owner > b. held by right or just claim ; legal < rightful authority > …

    New Collegiate Dictionary

  • 10rightful — right|ful [ˈraıtfəl] adj [only before noun] formal according to what is correct or what should be done legally or morally ▪ George sat at the head of the table, in his rightful place as their leader. ▪ I ll return the money to its rightful owner …

    Dictionary of contemporary English