right-downadv.adj.
/ˈrʌɪtˌdaʊn/, U.S. /ˈraɪtˌdaʊn/ In later use colloquial, and frequently in representations of regional speech.
A. adv.
1. Modifying a verb: without any limitation or reserve; completely, absolutely; outright. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > [adverb] > utterly
allOE
allOE
outlyOE
thwert-outc1175
skerea1225
thoroughc1225
downrightc1275
purec1300
purelyc1300
faira1325
finelyc1330
quitec1330
quitelyc1330
utterlyc1374
outerlya1382
plainlya1382
straighta1387
allutterly1389
starkc1390
oultrelya1393
plata1393
barec1400
outrightc1400
incomparablyc1422
absolutely?a1425
simpliciter?a1425
staringa1425
quitementa1450
properlyc1450
directly1455
merec1475
incomparable1482
preciselyc1503
clean?1515
cleara1522
plain1535
merely1546
stark1553
perfectly1555
right-down1566
simply1574
flat1577
flatly1577
skire1581
plumb1588
dead?1589
rankly1590
stark1593
sheera1600
start1599
handsmooth1600
peremptory1601
sheerly1601
rank1602
utter1619
point-blank1624
proofa1625
peremptorily1626
downrightly1632
right-down1646
solid1651
clever1664
just1668
hollow1671
entirely1673
blank1677
even down1677
cleverly1696
uncomparatively1702
subtly1733
point1762
cussed1779
regularly1789
unqualifiedly1789
irredeemably1790
positively1800
cussedly1802
heart1812
proper1816
slick1818
blankly1822
bang1828
smack1828
pluperfectly1831
unmitigatedly1832
bodaciously1833
unredeemedly1835
out of sight1839
bodacious1845
regular1846
thoroughly1846
ingrainedly1869
muckinga1880
fucking1893
motherless1898
self1907
stone1928
sideways1956
terminally1974
1566 T. Blundeville Order curing Horses Dis. cxxxiv. f. 95v, in Fower Offices Horsemanshippe The horse is not able to trauel, but halteth right downe.
1611 Bp. J. Hall Epist. III. v. i. 18 Teach the truth right-downe in an honest plainenesse.
1641 Bp. J. Hall Short Answer Vindic. Smectymnuus Pref. If I haue been somewhat bold with them, in telling them, right-down, of poor arguments..I may crave your pardon, Readers.
1645 J. Goodwin Innocency & Truth Triumphing 81 This being so, Mr. Prynnes comparison or parallel, halts right-downe.
1646 J. Maxwell Burden of Issachar 9 They threatned the Ministerie Right downe, That if they persisted in that course, [etc.].
1709 J. Johnson Clergy-man's Vade Mecum: Pt. II 194 They that used evasion, and did not right down subscribe the abnegation.
1845 H. Cockton Love Match iii. 24 When a good deal had been said on both sides, she right down promised to have me.
1888 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Robbery under Arms II. ix. 153 But she wouldn't have it. She right down refused.
1901 A. F. Slade Annie Deane xvi. 128 Right up to the sermon I right down enjoyed it, for it wus beautiful, an' one o' the hymns we used to have at home.
2. Modifying an adjective: completely, thoroughly; downright.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > [adverb] > utterly
allOE
allOE
outlyOE
thwert-outc1175
skerea1225
thoroughc1225
downrightc1275
purec1300
purelyc1300
faira1325
finelyc1330
quitec1330
quitelyc1330
utterlyc1374
outerlya1382
plainlya1382
straighta1387
allutterly1389
starkc1390
oultrelya1393
plata1393
barec1400
outrightc1400
incomparablyc1422
absolutely?a1425
simpliciter?a1425
staringa1425
quitementa1450
properlyc1450
directly1455
merec1475
incomparable1482
preciselyc1503
clean?1515
cleara1522
plain1535
merely1546
stark1553
perfectly1555
right-down1566
simply1574
flat1577
flatly1577
skire1581
plumb1588
dead?1589
rankly1590
stark1593
sheera1600
start1599
handsmooth1600
peremptory1601
sheerly1601
rank1602
utter1619
point-blank1624
proofa1625
peremptorily1626
downrightly1632
right-down1646
solid1651
clever1664
just1668
hollow1671
entirely1673
blank1677
even down1677
cleverly1696
uncomparatively1702
subtly1733
point1762
cussed1779
regularly1789
unqualifiedly1789
irredeemably1790
positively1800
cussedly1802
heart1812
proper1816
slick1818
blankly1822
bang1828
smack1828
pluperfectly1831
unmitigatedly1832
bodaciously1833
unredeemedly1835
out of sight1839
bodacious1845
regular1846
thoroughly1846
ingrainedly1869
muckinga1880
fucking1893
motherless1898
self1907
stone1928
sideways1956
terminally1974
1646 J. Bastwick Utter Routing of Army of Independents 101 I see no reason why I. S. should gather, that Iohns Disciples not only hesitated, but were right downe scandalized at the true Messias.
1648 J. Beaumont Psyche xv. lxi. 279 Who has no power to be Right-down displeas'd, at whatsoever breaks From those beloved lips.
1683 W. Kennett tr. Erasmus Witt against Wisdom 97 They..were right down honest well meaning people.
1750 J. Lockman tr. P. de Marivaux Pharsamond I. ii. 100 The uncle, at these words, was going to be right-down angry.
1832 F. Trollope Domest. Manners Amer. (ed. 2) II. xxiii. 31 That's right down well done.
1888 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Robbery under Arms I. i. 4 He was real rightdown sorry for me.
1971 P. Larkin Let. 18 July in Sel. Lett. (1992) 442 As an introvert I hardly notice anything anyway. Hardly the equipment for a right-down Murdochian novelist!
2007 Jersey Jrnl. (Nexis) 12 June The discussion before the finale got right down silly, even down to debates over what pop music would be playing.
B. adj.
Absolute, complete, thoroughgoing; (also) simple, straightforward. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > [adjective] > utter or absolute
shirea1225
purec1300
properc1380
plainc1395
cleana1400
fine?a1400
entirec1400
veryc1400
starka1425
utterc1430
utterlyc1440
merec1443
absolute1531
outright1532
cleara1535
bloodyc1540
unproachable1544
flat1553
downright1577
sheer1583
right-down?1586
single1590
peremptory1601
perfecta1616
downa1625
implicit1625
every way1628
blank1637
out-and-outa1642
errant1644
inaccessional1651
thorough-paced1651
even down1654
dead1660
double-dyed1667
through stitch1681
through-stitched1682
total1702
thoroughgoing1719
thorough-sped1730
regular1740
plumb1748
hollow1751
unextenuated1765
unmitigated1783
stick, stock, stone dead1796
positive1802
rank1809
heart-whole1823
skire1825
solid1830
fair1835
teetotal1840
bodacious1845
raw1856
literal1857
resounding1873
roaring1884
all out1893
fucking1893
pink1896
twenty-four carat1900
grand slam1915
stone1928
diabolical1933
fricking1937
righteous1940
fecking1952
raving1954
?1586 R. P. tr. D. Ortúñez de Calahorra Third Pt. First Bk. Mirrour of Knighthood xxxvi. f. 172v He stroke him such a right downe blowe, that although it were made of massie golde, yet hee cloue it downe to his breast.
1592 Arden of Feversham i. i. 175 Who would not venture vpon house and land, When he may haue it for a right-downe blow.
1648 J. Beaumont Psyche xix. clxxx. 382 Degenerating into Sorrows, and Right-down Vexations, rather than impart One Taste of Joy.
1659 J. Rushworth Hist. Coll. 121 The Earl of Bristol made a more benign construction thereof, the Duke a right-down conclusion.
1670 J. Eachard Grounds Contempt of Clergy 16 Such pretended favours and kindnesses as these, are the most right down discourtesies in the World.
1788 Catharine II. xxiii. 13 A worshipper of brazen-lunged deities,—in plainer words, a right down Methodist.
1799 J. T. Allingham Fortune's Frolic i. iii. 15 Rob. It's all true, Dolly, as sure as the Devil's in Lunnun. Dol. What! are you in right-down arnest?
1866 ‘G. Eliot’ Felix Holt I. xi. 261 ‘That's a right down genelman,’ said Pack.
1875 T. Seaton Man. Fret Cutting 1 Such fellows..get into all kinds of mischief, and become right-down scamps.
1890 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Colonial Reformer (1891) 221 Not a sheep near the place..; all good right-down cattle work to look forward to.
1940 N. Marsh Death at Bar iii. 48 What with his politics and his notions he's a right down stranger to me, is Will.
1955 Times 30 June 11/4 The glitter and sparkle that should go with the glory of being, if only for a day, a right-down, regular, radiant Queen.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2010; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adv.adj.1566