Link Centre Dictionary

rectify

rec·tify

UK/ˈɹɛktəˌfaɪ/ US/ˈrɛktʌˌfaɪ/ uncommon archaic obsolete

verb

1.

math: determine the length of

  • “rectify a curve”
2.

reduce to a fine, unmixed, or pure state; separate from extraneous matter or cleanse from impurities

  • “refine sugar”
Synonyms
3.

bring, lead, or force to abandon a wrong or evil course of life, conduct, and adopt a right one

  • “The Church reformed me”
  • “reform your conduct”
Synonyms
4.

set straight or right

  • “remedy these deficiencies”
  • “rectify the inequities in salaries”
  • “repair an oversight”
Synonyms
5.

make right or correct

  • “Correct the mistakes”
  • “rectify the calculation”
Synonyms
Antonyms
6.

convert into direct current

  • “rectify alternating current”

Origin

From Middle English rectifien, from Anglo-Norman rectifiier, rectefier (“to make straight”), from Medieval Latin rēctificō (“to make right”), from Latin rēctus (“straight”).

Phrases

  • rectified spirit

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

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WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.