An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/gerecht

by Friedrich Kluge

gerecht, adjective, ‘righteous, just, fit,’ from Middle High German gerëht, ‘straight, right, dexterous, skilful, fit, upright, innocent, just,’ Old High German girëht (grëht), ‘rectus, directus’ (not yer ‘justus’); corresponding to garaihts, ‘upright’; in Anglo-Saxon rihtwîs (Old High German rëhtwis), ‘justus.’ English righteous. See recht.