rectify

• POS: Verb (usu participle)
• HYPHEN: rec=ti=fy

CIDE DICTIONARY

rectify, v. t. [F. rectifier, LL. rectificare; L. rectus right + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See Right, and -fy.].

•  To make or set right; to correct from a wrong, erroneous, or false state; to amend; as, to rectify errors, mistakes, or abuses; to rectify the will, the judgment, opinions; to rectify disorders.  [1913 Webster]

  "I meant to rectify my conscience."  [1913 Webster]

  "This was an error of opinion which a conflicting opinion would have rectified."  [1913 Webster]
•  To refine or purify by repeated distillation or sublimation, by which the fine parts of a substance are separated from the grosser; as, to rectify spirit of wine.  [1913 Webster]
•  To produce ( as factitious gin or brandy) by redistilling low wines or ardent spirits (whisky, rum, etc.), flavoring substances, etc., being added.  [1913 Webster]

To rectify a globe, to adjust it in order to prepare for the solution of a proposed problem.

Syn. -- To amend; emend; correct; better; mend; reform; redress; adjust; regulate; improve. See Amend.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

rectify, v.tr. (-ies, -ied)
1 adjust or make right; correct, amend.
2 purify or refine, esp. by repeated distillation.
3 find a straight line equal in length to (a curve).
4 convert (alternating current) to direct current.

Derivative

rectifiable adj. rectification n.

Etymology

ME f. OF rectifier f. med.L rectificare f. L rectus right

THESAURUS

rectify

accommodate, accommodate with, accord, adapt, adapt to, adjust, adjust to, agree with, ameliorate, amend, assimilate, assimilate to, atone, attune, be guided by, bend, blue-pencil, bolt, chime in with, clarify, clear, compensate, comply, comply with, compose, conform, coordinate, correct, correspond, cover, cure, cut to, decrassify, depurate, discipline, disentangle, distill, do penance, edit, edulcorate, elute, emend, emendate, equalize, essentialize, expiate, extend, extract, fall in with, fill up, filter, filtrate, fit, fix, flatten, follow, gear to, give and take, give satisfaction, go by, harmonize, homologate, homologize, improve, indemnify, key to, leach, lixiviate, make all square, make amends, make compensation, make conform, make good, make plumb, make right, make uniform, make up for, measure, meet, mend, mold, observe, pay back, pay reparations, percolate, proportion, purify, put in tune, put right, put straight, put to rights, rebuild, recense, recompense, reconcile, redact, redraft, redress, refine, regulate, remedy, remunerate, repair, repay, requite, retaliate, revamp, revise, rework, rewrite, right, rub off corners, screen, separate, set, set right, set straight, set to rights, set up, settle, shape, sieve, sift, similarize, sit up, smooth, spiritualize, square, stand up, straighten, straighten out, straighten up, strain, sublimate, sublime, suit, sync, synchronize, tailor, tally with, trim to, true, true up, try, tune, unbend, uncurl, unkink, unsnarl, winnow, work over, yield

ROGET THESAURUS

rectify

Improvement

VB improve, be better, become better, get better, mend, amend, advance, ascend, increase, fructify, ripen, mature, pick up, come about, rally, take a favorable turn, turn over a new leaf, turn the corner, raise one's head, sow one's wild oats, recover, be better, be improved by, turn to right account, turn to good account, turn to best account, profit by, reap the benefit of, make good use of, make capital out of, place to good account, render better, improve, mend, amend, better, ameliorate, meliorate, correct, decrassify, improve upon, refine upon, rectify, enrich, mellow, elaborate, fatten, promote, cultivate, advance, forward, enhance, bring forward, bring on, foster, invigorate, touch up, rub up, brush up, furbish up, bolster up, vamp up, brighten up, warm up, polish, cook, make the most of, set off to advantage, prune, repair, put in order, review, revise, make corrections, make improvements, doctor, purify, relieve, refresh, infuse new blood into, recruit, reform, remodel, reorganize, new model, view in a new light, think better of, appeal from Philip drunk to Philip sober, palliate, mitigate, lessen an evil.

Restoration

VB return to the original state, recover, rally, revive, come come to, come round, come to oneself, pull through, weather the storm, be oneself again, get well, get round, get the better of, get over, get about, rise from one's ashes, rise from the grave, survive, resume, reappear, come to, come to life again, live again, rise again, heal, skin over, cicatrize, right itself, restore, put back, place in statu quo, reinstate, replace, reseat, rehabilitate, reestablish, reestate, reinstall, reconstruct, rebuild, reorganize, reconstitute, reconvert, renew, renovate, regenerate, rejuvenate, redeem, reclaim, recover, retrieve, rescue, redress, recure, cure, heal, remedy, doctor, physic, medicate, break of, bring round, set on one's legs, resuscitate, revive, reanimate, revivify, recall to life, reproduce, warm up, reinvigorate, refresh, make whole, redintegrate, recoup, make good, make all square, rectify, correct, put right, put to rights, set right, set to rights, set straight, set up, put in order, refit, recruit, fill up, fill up the ranks, reinforce, repair, put in repair, remanufacture, put in thorough repair, put in complete repair, retouch, refashion, botch, vamp, tinker, cobble, do up, patch up, touch up, plaster up, vamp up, darn, finedraw, heelpiece, stop a gap, stanch, staunch, caulk, calk, careen, splice, bind up wounds.

Straightness

VB be straight, have no turning, not incline to either side, not bend to either side, not turn to either side, not deviate to either side, go straight, steer for, render straight, straighten, rectify, set straight, put straight, unbend, unfold, uncurl &c, unravel, unwrap.