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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
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Richt, Rycht, adv. Also: richtt, ryicht, right(e, ryght(t, rigth; (rytht; ryt(t); rich, rych; recht, reycht, reight; rech. [ME and e.m.E. riht, rihht, riȝt(h), righte, ryth, OE rehte, riht(e, ryhte.] Right, or rightly.Sometimes placed after the word or phrase modified, also (rarely) so placed that it cannot be said with certainty which word or phrase is modified.

I. 1. Of motion, also of passage without movement: Straight, directly.Freq., with adv. or adv. phr. compl., in which case passing into 2 below.The quot. f. Gol. & Gaw. (see fig. below) may properly belong to IV below.(1) 1375 Barb. ix 751 (E) (cf. Richt n. 10 (1)).
Ȝe suld pres to derenȝhe rycht, And nocht … with slycht Ib. xiv 336.
And with hys rout raid thidder rycht c1400 Troy-bk. ii 1869.
He gart him go Richt to Pallamydes tent c1420 Wynt. vi 274.
On hys fute he wald ga rycht To the kyrkis in to the towne a1500 Rauf C. 792.
In ane ryall array He rydis full richt a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 12.
Venus … Vprais and set vnto the west full richt Hir goldin face [etc.] c1475 Wall. v 966.
Rays neuir agayne quhat ane at he hyt rycht a1500 Bk. Chess 1358.
This teileman has … A wand … To call his cattell to thair pastur richt 1539 Reg. Great S. 454/2.
Fra the said croce rycht south to the mercat-gait on the heuchheid a1550 Tayis Bank 3.
Be that rever ran I doun rycht a1568 Scott iii 12.
Nevir lat ȝour mowth and mynd go richt 1590 Burel Pilgr. ii 148.
The way thou wald go richt 1601 Reg. Great S. 417/1.
Richt eist the said Drum as the gait lyis(2) 1596 Dalr. I 134/29.
The lawful ȝouth quha rycht be lyne was sproung of the kingis bludefig. a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 165.
Gif … [it] Has done my lord [sc. King Arthur] to displeise, that I hym [sc. Kay] said ryght

b. On the right path; in the proper course. 1567 G. Ball. 45.
Call on the Lord … To leide vs in his law full rycht

c. Straight up-, upright. a1568 Bann. MS I p. 26/76.
A man may fall and richt vpryse c1590 J. Stewart 5/7.
Fall … befoir his royall feit … pray him rycht erect thé

2. Richt (on) till (to, fra), all the way to (from) (a place, time, etc.), right up to.Cf. 1 above, with which there is some ambiguity.(a) 1375 Barb. ii 53.
Eftyr the lord the Brwys he sent, Rycht till his in Ib. v 633 (C).
Richt he the hed to harnis clafe a1400 Leg. S. Prol. 62.
Tuk I one hand to tret … of the ewangel … Richt to Cristis ascencione ?1438 Alex. ii 23.
That day thay raid richt to the nicht c1420 Ratis R. 578.
Gud hop lestis rycht to the ded 1560 Rolland Seven S. 381.
To Romes court the way thay held on richt a1568 Scott ix 8.
Quhen I behald it rycht till end 1596 Dalr. I 73/4.
Rycht thairfra with his cumpanie he passis to that place(b) 1535 Stewart 22342.
All the landis that la in the south, Fra Forth streikand recht on to Eskis mouth

II. 3. Precisely, exactly, just, quite, completely, to the full.In (a) randoun richt, see Rando(u)n n.In verse sometimes, as in ME, ‘a mere rime-tag’ (OED), see e.g. the quots. f. Wall. and Doug. below. 1375 Barb. xvii 569 (C).
The Inglis men com on sadly Richt in a frount [E. frusch] 1398–9 Liber Melros 489.
To make thir paymentis … forouten ony maner of langer delay rigth in the manere as is befor saide ?1438 Alex. ii 8896.
He … hynt the king richt by the hand c1420 Wynt. i 346.
Ane half elne is the cubyt rycht 14.. Acts I 33/2.
Rycht sic dome sal be done of meide as of ale a1450 Fifteen Ois 276.
Jesu Christ … Of thi Fader the schynand lycht And of ane substance begynnyng rycht 1456 Hay I 144/11.
Rycht thus say we of testament c1475 Wall. viii 1154.
And spek furth mar off Wallace trawaill rycht 1513 Doug. viii ii 133.
Evander … Hys eyn hys mowth and all hys body rycht Gan to behald a1570-86 Maitl. F. 170/46.
Ane or twa Richt with thy leising sall thé ta And say thow leis

b. Modifying an adv., or adv. phr., of place. 1375 Barb. ii 570.
The ladyis raid rycht by his syd Ib. xvi 604.
The gilt spuris, rycht be the hele He suld … ger hew ȝow fra ?1438 Alex. i 2976.
For I sall ȝou richt heir abyde c1420 Wynt. iii 105.
The nayle … Dryfand down rycht throucht his hewyde 1460 Peebles B. Rec. I 137.
And rycht thair comperyt Thom Dicysoun of the Smythtfeld c1475 Wall. iv 242.
With his fute the ȝett he straik wp rycht Quhill brais and band to byrst Ib. v 905.
Rycht at the skyrt off Quenysbery befell 1494 Loutfut MS 1b.
The … heraldis sall gang richt befor the maistir of houshald c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 47.
And throu the ryveris soune rycht ran me by … I slepit 1513 Doug. i iv 19.
Rycht our forgane the forret of a bra … was … Ane coif 1521 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 174.
The said Gavin sall haf licens … to big rycht vp the gavill as it is begoune 1535 Stewart 50079.
Ane crucifix … Doun … fell … And hit this man evin richt vpone the heid c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 374.
He lap vpon his cursour wicht And straucht him in his stirroppis richt 1596 Dalr. I 11/21.
Rycht be the bordiris of the lande

c. Modifying an adv., or adv. phr., of time.Rycht furth, immediately.(1) 1375 Barb. x 377.
On the Fasteryngis ewyn rycht c1420 Wynt. viii 4367.
And rycht in to that same quhille Thomlyne the Brwys ras in to Kyle(2) a1400 Leg. S. ix 318.
Sum men sais … That he richt thane heddyt wes 1385 Red Bk. Grandtully I 139*.
Throw vertu of the forsayde obligacyoun rycht than presently frely delyueryt 1397 Acts I 208/1. a1500 Rauf C. 771. a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. 42/44.
Thai think … That thai serue God rycht than accordinglie(3) 1375 Barb. xvi 278.
It is the layndar … That hyr child-ill rycht now has tane 1461 Liber Plusc. 385.
Rycht now away is he 1513 Doug. v xi 98.
As I come hyyddir rycht now 15.. Christis Kirk 224 (M). a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 610 (W).
Bot quhilk wer ȝone thrie ȝe forbad Your company richt now? 1596 Dalr. II 125/26.
Rychtnow(4) 1440 Acts II 55/2.
Oure … lord will … gerre deliuer the castel of Kildrummy to the said lord of Erskyne richt furthe in al gudely haste

d. Modifying the conjunction as. See also e below.Also, once, richt so as. 1375 Barb. i 8.
The suthfastnes, That schawys the thing rycht as it wes Ib. iii 68 (see e (1) below). a1400 Leg. S. xix 500.
& sacrify oure godis to, Rycht as ȝe ware wont to do Ib. i 115. ?1438 Alex. ii 4548.
That it war Richt as we haue deuysit c1420 Wynt. viii 6373.
Rycht as men has sene the swyne De in till Connawche syne 1456 Hay I 27/14.
Rycht as the Pape … lichtnis all the lave of the Cristin faith, sa dois the sonne all the warld c1460 Regim. Princ. i (Maitl.).
Richt as all stringis ar cupillit in ane harpe a1500 Bk. Chess 1561.
Scho … said richt as scho thocht a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 223.
Sarwand that sweit rycht as thair awne souerane 15.. Clar. i 85.
Ane straike he ettillit right as he wald him slo 1570 Sat. P. xxiv 15.
Rycht as the tre is nureist be the rynde — a1568 Bann. MS 158b/88.
He is lang in … bucling vp his geir And arrayis him richt so as he wer new to leir

e. Richt swa (sa, etc.), in exactly the (same) way; in such a way; in just that way; likewise; just so; exactly that, just that.Sometimes correlative with (richt) as.Freq. written as one word.(1) 1375 Barb. iii 70.
Rycht as Golmakmorn was wone To haiff fra [Fyn] all his mengne, Rycht swa all his fra ws has he Ib. i 587. a1400 Leg. S. xxvii 916.
As he bad, richt swa did he 1456 Hay II 19/11. a1500 Henr. Fab. 2215.
Rycht as he has chosin to … manetene his fayth … wys clerkis …, rycht sa the hye glorious God chesit knychtis tobe his campiouns 1560 Rolland Seven S. 5702.
And as [etc.] … Richt sa thir herbis … May nathing help to my infirmitie a1568 Scott xiv 6.
As the kocatrice keilis with hir sicht, Rycht so the bewty of my lady … vnto my hairt redoundis(2) 1375 Barb. iv 297.
I said that thi sone suld ga To Paris and he did rycht swa c1420 Ratis R. 81. c1420 Wynt. viii 1913.
Trow weil, it aw rycht sua to be 1428 Sc. Hist. Rev. XXXI 145.
Item another richt sa 14.. Acts I 386/2. 1450 Reg. Episc. Brechin. II 85.
Item thryl to the deray corn and meil and rycht swa to the seriand 1454–5 Soc. Ant. Chart. No. 7.
The tothir breve was richtsa a breve of morteantecessoris 1456 Hay I 130/28.
And rycht sa; gif I help nocht my propre bischop, I am agaynis him Ib. 206/20.
The merchandis of Flaundris … and rycht sa of Dancekyn Ib. 69/6. 1457 Acts II 49/2.
That na lauboraris … weir on the werk day bot gray and quhit … and thar wifis rychtsa 1466 Aberd. B. Rec. MS V i p. 603 (27 March).
The quhilk law we oys and kepis and we consaile ȝow to do richt swa a1500 Bk. Chess 1718. 1496 Acta Conc. II 38.
Thai … spulȝeit … foure horses with a part of barkit hydis, as was rychtsa allegiit 1513 Doug. i Prol. 299.
Rycht so am I to Virgillis text ybund c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5338.
Rychtso the sterris thay do compare To the lawd common populare a1568 Scott iii 53.
Richswa 1572 Stewart Mem. 103.
To be haldin of him self … and rychsua to be haldin of his immediat superiour c1575 Balfour Pract. 2.

b. Just at that moment, just then. a1500 Seven S. 2593.
His son in to the se he kest … Richtsa a schip come saland by

4. With negatives: Absolutely (nothing); nothing (at all); no … (at all).(1) a1400 Leg. S. xvi 789.
Nere about hyr greu rycht nocht, … Gers, na tre, na nocht ellis 14.. Reg. Maj. c. 153.
& gif he haldis les than he sal rycht nocht pay for herȝelde 1460 Hay Alex. (S.T.S.) 2990.
All … away was swipit clene And rycht nocht left as thare nothing haid bene a1500 Peblis to Play 227. a1500 Henr. Fab. 2737.
Thow hes aneuch; the pure husband richt nocht Bot [etc.] 1535 Stewart 6070.
But counsall he wald do rycht nocht a1568 Scott ii 151.
Thair wes rycht nocht bot haif and ga a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 105.
A foole is fain of richt nocht Ib. No. 702.
He luves me for little that haits me for right not(2) 1375 Barb. x 455.
Thai … schup rycht na defens to ma Ib. xii 516 (C).
The remanant … For that lat maid rycht no stynting

III. As an intensifier.

5. Very. a. With adverbs (also adv. phr.).Sometimes quasi-comb., with the adv. modified.(1) 1375 Barb. viii 124.
The king lay in Galliston That is rycht ewyn anent Lowdoun 1401 Aberd. B. Rec. I 380.
We ar richt mykil haldyn to yhu c1420 Wynt. v 3506.
This Damasus … Couth mak rycht well in metyre wers a1500 Peblis to Play 164.
Lord God! richt weill that sat him a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 148. 1483 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 47.
That thay war rycht havely hurt … throw the doun cumming of the blak money 1513 Doug. x xi 45.
All thocht he mortale be rycht sone we knaw 1536 Douglas Corr. 144.
I commende me righte hartely unto your good lordshipe a1540 Freiris Berw. 57 (M).
Thir sillie freiris … hailsit hir richt bayth full curtaslie 15.. Wyf Awcht. 33.
The wyf was vp richt lait at evin c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 127.
Of ȝallow taftais … Begaryit … Richt craftelie with gold and silk 1567 G. Ball. 35.
Leuand thair rycht ryatouslie 1567 Sat. P. v 34.
Ȝe ar rycht far to blame a1589 Maxwell in Paisley Mag. (1828) 383.
He that thi friend hes bene rycht lange(2) 1460 Hay Alex. (S.T.S.) 234.
Ane awfull blenk rycht with ane fyrie fere 15.. Lichtoun Dreme 17 (M).
I … kest my self richt with ane michtie bend(3) c1400 Troy-bk. ii 719 (C).
The Troyiens … thar-of war rytht wondre blyth 1560 Rolland Seven S. 10488.
All herbis and treis richt wonder weill he knew(4) a1400 Leg. S. iii 50.
In Antioche … passit richtrath Ib. xviii 238.
Scho fled richtfaste forout vene In vildirnes(b) 1544 Corr. M. Lorraine 99.
My departeng qwelk, wel God, sal be rechtsowen her efter

b. With adjectives.Once, with compar. adj. ? = Much. (But perh. modifying the following phrase and so properly belonging to a (2) above.)(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxxv 4.
Thadee … wes … richt brukil of hyre flesche 1390 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 21.
The qwylk bischap mad hym richt resonabil demaundes c1400 Troy-bk. i 253.
Thare was alsua about the toune … A playn ritht fare, ewin and braid c1420 Wynt. viii 3929.
In that chas slayne war rycht mony 1456 Hay II 7/10. a1500 Henr. Robene & M. 99.
He was worthin rycht lene, … with hevy chere and holl eyne c1475 Wall. ix 1923.
His handis maid rycht lik till a pawmer 1494 Loutfut MS 29a.
A rycht gret flud Ib. 44b.
The party defendand sall haue a rycht riche heaume a1500 Bk. Chess 946.
Richt dowtit ar knychtis in batall strang 1502–3 Treas. Acc. II 201.
Ristlis blak rycht gude to ane goun to the king a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 655. 1531 Bell. 1531 Boece I 1.
This nycht I haue bene rycht affeir 1535 Stewart 30946.
Richt grit distructioun … He maid thairin 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1523.
Ȝe ken richt few of them that thryfes 1562-3 Winȝet I 117/14.
The Lutheranis, lenis in this mater rycht wechty to the Apostolik traditioun 1600-1610 Melvill 71.
Whowbeit sum of us war right fleyd 1622-6 Bisset II 194/27.
[Ane] … richt curagius [king](b) 1375 Barb. i 194.
Officeris … That worthyt than sa rych fellone 1460 Hay Alex. (S.T.S.) 2355.
Quhilk of befoir rych enamorat haid bene Off … the quene c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus iii 301.
For language rich austeir(c) c1400 Troy-bk. ii 773 (C).
Rytht(2) c1500 Makc. MS xvi 11.
I was wrathar rycht at Judas, For no mercy wald he as, Thane … for the grit trespas

c. In titles or forms of address.(a) c1390 Coldingham Priory 65.
Richt honorabylle fadyr in Crist, God have yhow in kepynge 1434 Raine N. Durham App. 63.
A ryght hegh and myghti lord, Williȝam Erle of Angus 1468 Smit Bronnen I ii 1018.
Tyll rycht worchypfull men, borowmasteris, and to the consell of Midyllburch 1491 Reg. Episc. Glasg. 482.
Richt traist and hartly belovet clerk and counsalour we gret ȝow hartly weil 1494 Loutfut MS 36b.
The paip writtis till him rycht Christin king 1561 Sel. MSS Q. Mary 90.
Our rich trousty and weilbelovit the ȝoung larde of Lethingtoun 1565 Reg. Privy C. I 400.
The rycht excellent rycht heich and illustir princessis 1582 Conv. Burghs I 158.
Richtt c1586 Maxwell Mem. II 159.
Ryicht 1665 Wemyss Corr. 132.
Ryghtt 1676 Dunbar Social Life I 292.
Rytt honorible, I received ane lyne from you 1685 Rothesay B. Rec. 408.
The right reverend father Archball be the mercy of God Bishop of the Isle(b) 1543 St. P. Henry VIII V 285.
We haif geven commissioun to owr rech trest cusengis(c) 1574 Maxwell Mem. I 310.
Ane reycht honorabile man 1610 E. Loth. Antiq. Soc. II 52.
The reight ho[nora]ble George, Earl of Dunbar

6. Only in Barb.: Placed before instead of after the indef. art.Cf. the same usage in late ME and e.m.E. (c1400–1523). 1375 Barb. xv 367 (C).
Thair mycht me se ficht fellely, And richt ane cruell melle mak Ib. 537.
Thai wald with rycht ane angry face Beteche thame to the blak Dowglas Ib. xviii 272 (E).
Thai send furth rycht a gret menȝe

IV. 7. Righteously; uprightly; with justice, fairly. c1420 Ratis R. 88.
For othir part in thar mysdeid—Sen nan al may rycht thaim leid—Sal her have tribulacioune Ib. 512.
Thar men sal se throw Godis mycht That al thing sal be demyt rycht 1428 Liber Melros II 521.
Thai couth pert it no rychtar na hym to hafe the tane halfe and hym the tother [etc.] a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. 24/4.
Grant was thy licht … To leif eftir thy lawis richt

8. Properly; appropriately; in the required or necessary manner; aright. c1420 Wynt. I 838.
The land … of Aracusy Off Aracus ane hyll … That land that name has gottyn rycht a1500 Bk. Chess 856.
So suld his saull … Of knychtlie werteu be enarmed richt c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) 212/22.
Ane knycht Honestly cled that cumis me richt Ane prydfull man than call thay me 1513 Doug. x xiii 178.
Hys ȝallow lokis … That ayr war kemmyt and addressyt rycht c1550 Lynd. Test. Meldrum 148.
This beand done and all thing reulit richt 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 506.
How that ȝe suld elect moist rycht Ȝour jugis a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 242.
A wretch dois nathing richt but when he deis

9. In accordance with the facts or apparent truth; accurately; correctly; truly.(1) c1450-2 Howlat 162 (A).
A college of cardinalis … That war crannis of kynd gif I richt compt a1500 Seven S. 8.
He had … Ane sone baith faire and eligant And of his age richt till awant For he of eld was bot thre ȝeire 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1702.
Plesand debaitmentis, quha sa richt reportis, Thair micht be sene c1552 Lynd. Mon. 66.
This mortall miserie … Procedis of syn gyf I can rycht discryue 1572 Sat. P. xxxii 6.
Curst Nemrod, richt of Babilone the cheif! 1596 Dalr. I 142/10.
Al seruice of the ald Godis, or quhilke ryter may be named maist vane errouris of the Ægiptianis(2) c1420 Wynt. v 3462.
A dede knycht, That Mercurius callyd wes rycht a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 386 (M).
The erle of Murray buyr that surename richt

10. comb. 1625 Mar & Kellie MSS Suppl. 227 (7 April).
I hope in God he shalbe a verrye brave and rycht sette king

V. 11. To the right. 1627 Kellie Pallas Armata 35.
Right round about, … Left round about, … Sixt ranke right or left round about