richtet

Richtet is the third-person singular present tense form of the German verb richten. It appears in ordinary speech and writing with several related meanings, depending on the context. Core senses include to direct or aim, to set or adjust, and to judge or sentence; it can also mean to align or conform to something.

In usage, richten can denote directing attention or intention, as in der Blick on den Horizont richten (to turn one’s gaze toward the horizon). It can describe arranging or correcting, for example den Raum richten (to put a room in order) or den Kurs richten (to set a course). Richten also has a legal or punitive sense, historically meaning to judge or to sentence someone: über jemanden richten. In the reflexive or fixed phrase sich richten nach, it means to conform to or follow something, such as sich nach dem Plan richten.

Grammatical notes: richtet is used with a direct object in many senses (e.g., jemanden richten, einen Blick richten). The imperative form for plural you is Richtet euch nach den Anweisungen. The past participle is gerichtet, and passive constructions use wird gerichtet. The verb can appear in various tenses formed with auxiliary haben or sein, depending on voice and aspect.

Etymology and related terms: Richtet derives from the German verb richten, linked to the notion of making something right or true, and is related to recht (right, correct) and the concept of order or law. Related verbs include einrichten (to install or set up) and richten nach (to conform to).

See also: Richt, Recht, Gericht.