Riteous
/ˈraɪ.təs/noun
An obsolete spelling variant of “righteous,” meaning morally upright or just.
Did you know?Despite its appearance, “riteous” is not historically derived from “rite”; it reflects older spellings and pronunciations of “righteous.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*reg-
“To move in a straight line; to guide or rule.”
Proto-Germanic
Proto-Germanic
*rehtaz
“Straight, right, just.”
Old English
Old English
rihtwīs
“Righteous; literally “right-wise” or possessing right judgment.”
Middle English
Middle English
rightwis / riȝtwis
“Righteous, morally correct, just.”
Middle English
Middle English
riteous
“A variant spelling of “righteous,” shaped by changing pronunciation and spelling conventions.”
Modern English
English
righteous
“Morally right, virtuous, or just; “riteous” survives mainly as an obsolete form.”