different between righteous vs upstanding

English

Alternative forms

• rightuous, rightwise (obsolete)

Etymology

From earlier rightuous, rightwose, rightwos, rightwise, from Middle English rightwise, rightwis, from Old English rihtw?s (“righteous, just, right, justifiable”), 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 rehtw?sic (“righteous, just”), Icelandic réttvíss (“righteous, just”). Compare also thefteous, mighteous.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??a?t??s/
• Rhymes: -a?t??s

Adjective

righteous (comparative more righteous, superlative most righteous)

1. Free from sin or guilt.
2. Moral and virtuous, to the point of sanctimonious.

3. Justified morally.

   righteous indignation

4. (slang, US) Awesome; great.
   • 1995, Norman L. Russell, Doug Grad, Suicide Charlie: A Vietnam War Story (page 191)

     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.

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

righteous (third-person singular simple present righteouses, present participle righteousing, simple past and past participle righteoused)

1. To make righteous; specifically, to justify religiously, to absolve from sin.
   • 2009, Diarmaid MacCulloch, A History of Christianity, Penguin 2010, p. 101:

     Thus for the purposes of being ‘righteoused’, the Law was irrelevant; yet Paul could not bear to see all the Law disappear.

English

Etymology 1

From up- +? standing.

Adjective

upstanding (comparative more upstanding, superlative most upstanding)

1. honest; reputable; respectable

   An upstanding merchant will exchange a faulty product.

Etymology 2

From upstand.

Adjective

upstanding (comparative more upstanding, superlative most upstanding)

1. standing up

   Please be upstanding for His Worship the Mayor.

Verb

upstanding

1. present participle of upstand

Related terms

• stand
• stand up
• upstand

Anagrams

• standing up