- Today's Word
Rectitude
REK-ti-tood
Definition
(noun) Morally correct behavior or thinking; righteousness.
Example
Her rectitude was admired even by her fiercest opponents.
Fun Fact
Rectitude is an old-school word that appears in documents like the U.S. Declaration of Independence, which refers to “a decent respect to the opinions of mankind” and “the rectitude of our intentions.” It comes from Latin rectus, meaning “straight” or “right,” and it’s often used to describe people with uncompromising principles.
(adjective) Kept secret, especially because it would not be approved of; stealthy or secretive.
She cast a surreptitious glance at her phone during the meeting.
Late Middle English: from Latin “surreptitius,” from “surripere” meaning “to take away secretly,” from “sub-” (secretly) + “rapere” (to seize).