Lexic.us

Definition of Right smart

1. Adverb. To a great degree or by a great distance; very much ('right smart' is regional in the United States). "The other side of the hill is right smart steeper than the side we are on"

2. Adjective. (Southern or Midland) considerable. "It's a right smart distance"

Lexicographical Neighbors of Right Smart

right of re-entry right of reentry right of search right of sepulchre right of ways right on right one right or left lateral decubitus film right ovarian vein right ovarian vein syndrome

right parasternal impulses right part of diaphragmatic surface of liver right pulmonary artery right sagittal fissure right smart (current term) right splicing junction right stage right stochastic matrix right superior intercostal vein right superior pulmonary vein

right suprarenal vein right testicular vein right to an attorney right to choose right to confront accusors right to die right to due process right to keep and bear arms right to liberty

Literary usage of Right smart

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. An American Glossary by Richard Hopwood Thornton (1912)
"1855 Thar hain't been much rain lately, but thar's right smart of snow, ... 1890 [He said the water had been] on the rise right smart of time already. ..."

2. Report of the Joint Select Committee Appointed to Inquire Into the Condition by Luke Potter Poland, John Scott (1872)
"I don't know; it ought to be right smart for them that done it. Question. You helped ? Question. You gave them your countenance. What do you think ought to ..."

3. The Great South: A Record of Journeys in Louisiana, Texas, the Indian by Edward King (1875)
""right smart" is used in a variety of ways never employed at the North. The Southerner says, "We shall have a right smart crop this season," or, ..."

4. A Dictionary of Slang, Jargon & Cant: Embracing English, American, and Anglo by Albert Barrère, Charles Godfrey Leland (1890)
"right smart (American), a " right smart of work," a large amount of work ... Mayor Hewitt has laid out what they call in the far West " a right smart of ..."

5. Macmillan's Magazine by David Masson, George Grove, John Morley, Mowbray Morris (1872)
"Now, what's the difference between smart and right-smart? ... I should say now, the potentate here was a right-smart man," said the optimist; ..."

6. Wisconsin Journal of Education by Wisconsin Teachers' Association, Wisconsin Education Association Council, Wisconsin Dept. of Public Instruction (1877)
"There's a right smart of Christianity there." In giving directions to a certain place, a woman said, " Go on till you come to a right smart chance of a dug ..."

7. The Southern States of North America: A Record of Journeys in Louisiana by Edward King (1875)
""right smart" is used in a variety of ways never employed at the North. The Southerner says, "We shall have a right smart crop this season," or, ..."

8. Words, Facts, and Phrases: A Dictionary of Curious, Quaint, & Out-of-the-way by Eliezer Edwards (1882)
"American for a good many, large, plenty, &c., eg 'a right smart chunk of bacon. ... She had right smart of life in her."—Dre/l. vol. ip 209. ..."

Other Resources: