rightness

Etymology

Traces to Middle English rightnesse, riȝtnesse, rihtnesse, from Old English rihtnes, rehtnis, from Proto-West Germanic *rehtanassī ("rightness, justice"), equivalent to right plus -ness. It is cognate with West Frisian rjochtens ("rightness"), Middle Dutch rechtenesse ("rightness, justification") and Old High German rehtnissa ("justice").