downright

  • 1Downright — Down right , a. 1. Plain; direct; forthright; unceremonious; blunt; positive; as, he spoke in his downright way. [1913 Webster] A man of plain, downright character. Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster] 2. Open; artless; undisguised; absolute; unmixed; as …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 2Downright — Down right , adv. 1. Straight down; perpendicularly. [1913 Webster] 2. In plain terms; without ceremony. [1913 Webster] We shall chide downright, if I longer stay. Shak. [1913 Webster] 3. Without delay; at once; completely. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 3downright — [doun′rīt΄] adv. [ME doun riht: see DOWN1 & RIGHT] 1. thoroughly; utterly 2. Archaic straight down adj. 1. absolute; thoroughgoing [a downright insult] 2. s …

    English World dictionary

  • 4downright — index absolute (complete), clear (apparent), honest, ingenuous, outright, purely (positively) …

    Law dictionary

  • 5downright — c.1200, “straight down,” from DOWN (Cf. down) (adv.) + RIGHT (Cf. right) (adj.1). Meaning “thoroughly” attested from c.1300. O.E. had dunrihte downwards …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 6downright — adj also adv *forthright Analogous words: blunt, *bluff, brusque, curt: candid, plain, open, *frank: *straightforward, aboveboard Contrasted words: devious, oblique, *crooked …

    New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • 7downright — [adj] thorough, absolute blatant, blunt, categorical, certain, clear, complete, damned, explicit, flat, gross, honest, indubitable, open, out and out, outright, plain, positive, simple, sincere, straight, straightforward, sure, thoroughgoing,… …

    New thesaurus

  • 8downright — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ utter; complete. ► ADVERB ▪ to an extreme degree; thoroughly …

    English terms dictionary

  • 9downright — [[t]da͟ʊnraɪt[/t]] ADV: ADV adj (emphasis) You use downright to emphasize unpleasant or bad qualities or behaviour. ...ideas that would have been downright dangerous if put into practice... She was often downright rude to him. Syn: out and out… …

    English dictionary

  • 10downright — I. adverb Date: 13th century 1. archaic straight down 2. absolutely 1 < downright handsome > < downright mean > 3. obsolete forthright II …

    New Collegiate Dictionary