[ad. L. correct-us made straight, set right, etc., pa. pple. of corrigĕre: see CORRECT v.]
† A. pa. pple. [Orig. immediately repr. the L., but in later times prob. considered to be short for corrected, or as a pa. pple. like set, knit, etc.; or even as pa. pple. of correck = mod.Sc. correckit.] Corrected; punished, amended. Obs.
1460. Capgrave, Chron., 249. That certeyn malefactoris … be not correct.
1482. Monk of Evesham (Arb.), 66. Gef y had correcte hem.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 78 b. To be correcte for theyr offences.
1538. Starkey, England, II. i. 167. The wych faute, onys correcte, shal also take away thys frenecy.
1712. Swift, Let. Eng. Tongue. I would have our language, after it is duly correct, always to last.
B. adj.
1. In accordance with an acknowledged or conventional standard, esp. of literary or artistic style, or of manners or behavior; proper.
1676. Dryden, Aurengz., Prol. What verse can do, he has performed in this, Which he presumes the most correct of his.
1824. Byron, Juan, XVI. lviii. New buildings of correctest conformation.
1845. Ford, Handbk. Spain, I. 58. The correct thing is to have the owner’s name worked in on the edge.
2. In accordance with fact, truth or reason; free from error; exact, true, accurate; right. Said also of persons, in reference to their statements, scholarship, acquirements, etc.
Correct card: see CARD sb.2 6 e.
1705. Addison, Italy, Pref. Monsieur Misson has wrote a more correct Account of Italy in general than any before him.
1709. Felton, Diss. Classics (1713), 48 (J.). Your Lordship will always use the best and most correct Editions.
1790. Cath. M. Graham, Lett. Educ., 5. The correctest idea we can form of the equity of our maker.
1820. in Picton, L’pool Munic. Rec. (1886), II. 388. Leaving to … their correcter judgment to decide.
1831. Macaulay, Byron, Ess. 1854, I. 159/2. Mr. Hunt is, we suspect, quite correct in saying that [etc.].
1875. Jevons, Money (1878), 8. This definition will be correct.
1875. Ure, Dict. Arts, III. 648. When the author returns his proof and revise, and is satisfied that the sheet is correct. Ibid. Care is taken … that the pages are correct, and that the ‘signatures’ are in order.
1882. Mrs. B. M. Croker, Proper Pride, III. ii. 44. On reference to the correct card, they saw ‘Captain Campbell’s Tornado; scarlet jacket, [etc.].’
3. Of persons: Adhering exactly to an acknowledged standard: a. of literary or artistic style.
1734. Pope, Ess. Man, IV. 381. Correct with spirit, eloquent with ease.
1736. Johnson, in Boswell. The best and correctest authours.
1831. Macaulay, Byron, Ess. 1854, I. 153/2. What are called the most correct plays of the most correct dramatists.
b. of manners or behavior.
c. 1800. Jebb, Corr. (1834), I. i. 4. He is … as a clergyman, extremely zealous and correct.
1891. Blackw. Mag., July, 42/1. Whenever a commandment is broken by one of these correct heroes or aristocratic heroines, it is done with perfect regard for the usages of polite society.
