Rēe'ti-fy', v. t.
v. t. [imp. & p. p. RECTIFIED; p. pr. & vb. n. RECTIFYING.] [Fr. rectifier, Pr., Sp., & Pg. rectificar, It. rettificare, L. Lat. rectificare, fr. Lat. rectus, right, and facere, to make.]
Sense 1. To make straight or 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.
Sense 2. (Chem.) To refine by repeated distillation or sublimation, by which the fine parts of a substance are separated from the grosser; as, to rectify spirit of wine.
To rectify a globe, to adjust it in order to prepare for the solution of a proposed problem. Hutton.
Synonyms—To amend; amend; correct; better; mend; reform; redress; adjust; regulate; improve. See AMEND.