RECTIFY

rectify

(verb) convert into direct current; “rectify alternating current”

correct, rectify, right

(verb) make right or correct; “Correct the mistakes”; “rectify the calculation”

rectify, remediate, remedy, repair, amend

(verb) set straight or right; “remedy these deficiencies”; “rectify the inequities in salaries”; “repair an oversight”

reform, reclaim, regenerate, rectify

(verb) bring, lead, or force to abandon a wrong or evil course of life, conduct, and adopt a right one; “The Church reformed me”; “reform your conduct”

refine, rectify

(verb) reduce to a fine, unmixed, or pure state; separate from extraneous matter or cleanse from impurities; “refine sugar”

rectify

(verb) math: determine the length of; “rectify a curve”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Verb

rectify (third-person singular simple present rectifies, present participle rectifying, simple past and past participle rectified)

(obsolete, transitive) To heal (an organ or part of the body). [14th-18th c.]

(transitive) To restore (someone or something) to its proper condition; to straighten out, to set right. [from 16th c.]

(transitive) To remedy or fix (an undesirable state of affairs, situation etc.). [from 15th c.]

(transitive, chemistry) To purify or refine (a substance) by distillation. [from 15th c.]

(transitive) To correct or amend (a mistake, defect etc.). [from 16th c.]

(transitive, now, rare) To correct (someone who is mistaken). [from 16th c.]

(transitive, geodesy, historical) To adjust (a globe or sundial) to prepare for the solution of a proposed problem. [from 16th c.]

(transitive, electronics) To convert (alternating current) into direct current. [from 19th c.]

(transitive, math) To determine the length of a curve included between two limits.

(transitive) To produce (as factitious gin or brandy) by redistilling bad wines or strong spirits (whisky, rum, etc.) with flavourings.

Synonyms

• See also repair

Anagrams

• certify, cretify

Source: Wiktionary

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Rec"ti*fy (-f), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rectified (-fd); p. pr. & vb. n. Rectifying (-f`ng).] Etym: [F. rectifier, LL. rectificare; L. rectus right + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See Right, and -fy.]

1. 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. I meant to rectify my conscience. Shak. This was an error of opinion which a conflicting opinion would have rectified. Burke.

2. (Chem.)

Definition: 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.

3. (Com.)

Definition: To produce ( as factitious gin or brandy) by redistilling low wines or ardent spirits (whisky, rum, etc.), flavoring substances, etc., being added. 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.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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