richten

From Middle Dutch richten, from Old Dutch rihten, from Proto-West Germanic *rihtijan, from Proto-Germanic *rihtijaną (“to right”), derived from *rehtaz (“right, straight”). Equivalent to recht (“right, straight”) +‎ -en (“deadjectival”) and shows the effect of historical i-mutation.

• IPA^(key): /ˈrɪxtə(n)/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɪxtən

richten

1. (transitive) to direct, aim

   Synonyms: doelen, munten

• Afrikaans: rig
• Negerhollands: richt

Middle High German richten, from Old High German rihten, from Proto-West Germanic *rihtijan (“to right”). Cognate with English right.

• IPA^(key): [ˈʁɪçtn̩], [ˈʁɪçtən]

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: rich‧ten

richten (weak, third-person singular present richtet, past tense richtete, past participle gerichtet, auxiliary haben)

1. (transitive) to direct, to point [with accusative ‘e.g. a weapon’ and auf (+ accusative) ‘at someone/something’]

   Richte diese Waffe nicht auf mich! ― Don't point that gun at me!

   Alle Augen waren auf sie gerichtet. ― All eyes were on her.

2. (transitive) to direct, to address [with accusative and an (+ accusative) ‘at/to someone/something’]

   Er richtete seine Worte an die Menschenmenge. ― He directed his words at the crowd.

3. (transitive) to fix, to rectify, to put right

   Wer kann diese Krise richten? ― Who can solve this crisis?

   Das Auto muss schon wieder gerichtet werden. ― The car needs to be fixed yet again.

4. (transitive) to straighten (something bent or tilted or not lined up properly); to right

   Kannst du den Löffel auch richten? ― Can you also straighten the spoon?

   zugrunde richten. ― to destroy (to level to the ground).

5. (reflexive) to be directed (at) (of emotions, words, etc.); to turn (toward) (of a look, one's eyes, gaze, etc.) [with auf (+ accusative) or gegen (+ accusative) ‘someone’]

   Keine Sorge, ihre Wut richtet sich nicht gegen Sie. ― Don't worry, her anger isn't directed at you.

6. (transitive) to judge

   Synonym: urteilen

7. (reflexive) to follow the lead of, to abide by (to adjust one's behavior according to a person, rule etc.) [with nach (+ dative)]

   Das ist mir egal; ich richte mich nach dir. ― I don’t care; I will follow your lead.

8. (reflexive) to depend [with nach ‘on’] (impersonal)

   Der Wechselkurs richtet sich nach den politischen Geschehnissen. ― The exchange rate depends on political events.

9. (transitive, dated, higher register) to execute, to put to death

   Synonym: hinrichten

10. (transitive, chiefly Austria, Southern Germany, Switzerland) to prepare

    Synonym: herrichten

    Ich muss das Mittagessen noch richten. ― I still have to prepare lunch.

• → Pannonian Rusyn: рихтац (rixtac), (obsolete) рихтовац (rixtovac)
• → Polish: rychtować

• “richten” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
• “richten” in Uni Leipzig: Wortschatz-Lexikon
• “richten” in Duden online
• “richten” in OpenThesaurus.de

From Old Dutch rihten, from Proto-West Germanic *rihtijan.

richten

1. This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text {{rfdef}}.

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• rechten

• Dutch: richten
• Limburgish: richte

• “richten”, in Vroegmiddelnederlands Woordenboek, 2000
• Verwijs, E., Verdam, J. (1885–1929) “richten”, in Middelnederlandsch Woordenboek, The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff, →ISBN