richten

From Middle Dutch richten, from Old Dutch rihten, from Proto-Germanic *rihtijaną (“to right”), derived from *rehtaz (“right, straight”). Equivalent to recht (“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

• richting
• aanrichten
• africhten
• berichten
• gelijkrichten
• inrichten
• oprichten
• uitrichten
• verrichten

• 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!

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

   Wer kann diese Krise richten?

   Who can solve this crisis?

3. (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).

4. (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.

5. (transitive) to judge

   Synonym: urteilen

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

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

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

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

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

   Synonym: hinrichten

• → 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}}.

This verb needs an inflection-table template.

• 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