un-rife
adjective
1.
of common or frequent occurrence; prevalent; in widespread existence, activity, or use: Crime is rife in the slum areas of our cities.
2.
current in speech or report: Rumors are rife that the government is in financial difficulty.
3.
abundant, plentiful, or numerous.
4.
abounding (usually followed by with ).
Origin:
before 1150; Middle English; Old English rīfe; cognate with Middle Dutch rijf abundant, Old Norse rīfr
before 1150; Middle English; Old English rīfe; cognate with Middle Dutch rijf abundant, Old Norse rīfr
Related forms
rife·ly, adverb
rife·ness, noun
o·ver·rife, adjective
un·rife, adjective
Synonyms
3. plenteous, multitudinous; teeming, swarming.
3. plenteous, multitudinous; teeming, swarming.
Antonyms
3. scarce.
3. scarce.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To un-rife
00:10
Un-rife
is always a great word to know.
So is ort. Does it mean:
| a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal. |
| a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
rife (raɪf) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | of widespread occurrence; prevalent or current: rumour was rife in the village |
| 2. | very plentiful; abundant |
| 3. | ( |
| [Old English rīfe; related to Old Norse rīfr generous, Middle Dutch rīve] | |
| 'rifely | |
| —adv | |
| 'rifeness | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
rife
O.E. rife "abundant." Related to O.N. rifr (Swed. river, Norw. riv), M.Du. riif, M.L.G. rive "abundant, generous." "The prevalence of the word in early southern texts is in favour of its being native in English, rather than an adoption from Scandinavian." [OED]
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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