rectitudinous

adjective
rec·​ti·​tu·​di·​nous | \ ˌrek-tə-ˈtüd-nəs How to pronounce rectitudinous (audio) , -ˈtyüd-; -ˈtü-də-nəs, -ˈtyü-\

Definition of rectitudinous

1 : characterized by rectitude
2 : piously self-righteous

Did You Know?

Rectitudinous comes to us straight from Late Latin rectitudin- (English added the -ous ending), which itself ultimately derived from the Latin word rectus, meaning both "straight" and "right." (There are other rectus descendants in English, including rectitude, of course, and rectilinear, rectangle, and rectify.) When rectitudinous first appeared in print in 1897, it was in the phrase "notoriously and unctuously rectitudinous." Although rectitude often expresses an admirable moral integrity, rectitudinous has always had a less flattering side. It can suggest not only moral uprightness but also a displeasing holier-than-thou attitude.

First Known Use of rectitudinous

1897, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for rectitudinous

Late Latin rectitudin-, rectitudo rectitude

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