Nearby Words

ridding

[rid] Origin

rid

1[rid]
verb (used with object), rid or rid·ded, rid·ding.
1.
to clear, disencumber, or free of something objectionable (usually followed by of): I want to rid the house of mice. In my opinion, you'd be wise to rid yourself of the smoking habit.
2.
to relieve or disembarrass (usually followed by of): to rid the mind of doubt.
3.
Archaic. to deliver or rescue: to rid them out of bondage; to rid him from his enemies.
4.
be rid of, to be free of or no longer encumbered by: to be rid of obligations.
5.
get rid of, to eliminate or discard: It's time we got rid of this trash.

:10

:09

:08

:07

:06

:05

:04

:03

:02

:01

Ridding is always a great word to know.
So is flibbertigibbet. Does it mean:
an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle.
a chattering or flighty, light-headed person.

Origin:
1150–1200; Middle English ridden (v.), Old English (ge)ryddan to clear (land); cognate with Old Norse rythja to clear, empty

rid·der, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged

rid

2[rid]
verb Archaic.
a simple past tense and past participle of ride.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To ridding
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

rid
c.1200, from O.N. ryðja (past tense ruddi, past participle ruddr) "to clear (land) of obstructions," from P.Gmc. *reudijanan (cf. O.H.G. riuten, Ger. reuten "to clear land," O.Fris. rothia "to clear," O.E. -royd "clearing," common in northern place names). The general sense of "to make (something)
EXPAND
free (of something else)" emerged by 1565. Senses merged somewhat with Northern Eng., Scot., and U.S. dial redd. Riddance is attested from 1535.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Dictionary.com, LLC. Copyright © 2012. All rights reserved.
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature