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Rectitude vs Turpitude - What's the difference?

rectitude | turpitude |

As nouns the difference between rectitude and turpitude

is that rectitude is straightness; the state or quality of having a constant direction and not being crooked or bent while turpitude is inherent baseness, depravity or wickedness; corruptness and evilness.

rectitude

Noun

  • Straightness; the state or quality of having a constant direction and not being crooked or bent.
  • * 2010 , (Christopher Hitchens), Hitch-22 , Atlantic 2011, p. 98:
  • A consciousness of rectitude can be a terrible thing, and in those days I didn't just think that I was right: I thought that “we” (our group of International Socialists in particular) were being damn well proved right.
  • Conformity to the rules prescribed for moral conduct; (moral) uprightness, virtue.
  • * 1776 , , et al.'', ''Declaration of Independence , 4 Jul.:
  • We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name, and by authority of the good people of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be Free and Independent States.

    Quotations

    *

    Synonyms

    * (rightness of principle) honesty, integrity, morality

    References

    *

    Anagrams

    * ----

    turpitude

    English

    Noun

  • Inherent baseness, depravity or wickedness; corruptness and evilness.
  • *
  • An act evident of such a depravity.