rife, a. (n.) and adv.
(raɪf)
Forms: 2 ryfe, 3–5 riue (rive), ryue (ryve); 3–5 rif, rijf (4 riif, 5 riife, riyf), 5–7 riffe, 6–7 rief (6 riefe), 3— rife; 4–5 ryf (5 ryif, ryyf), 5–6 ryfe, ryffe, 5–7 ryff.
[Late OE. r{yacu}fe (for *r{iacu}fe), = mod.Fris. rjû, MDu. rive, rijf, MLG. rîve, ryve (LG. rîfe), ON. r{iacu}fr (MSw. river, Norw. riv). The prevalence of the word in early southern texts is in favour of its being native in English, rather than an adoption from Scandinavian.]
A. adj.
1. Of common or frequent occurrence; prevalent; widespread: a. Of hurtful or obnoxious things or conditions; in later use esp. of infectious diseases or epidemics.
| c 1120 in Sax. Leechd. III. 164 Ðere .vii. niht ᵹyf wind byoð, fir byð swyðe ryfe þy ᵹeare. c 1205 Lay. 631 Þar was muchel blod-gute; baluwe þer wes riue. Ibid. 20677 Dæð þer wes rife. a 1300 Cursor M. 1594 Hijs faas to bring al o lijf, And waass þat wrang, þat was sa rijf. c 1315 Shoreham iv. 307 Þat senne hys ryf in londe. c 1400 Destr. Troy 11775 To be cumbrid with couetous,..That rote is & rankist of all the rif syns. 1432–50 tr. Higden (Rolls) II. 185 The worlde..is now..constreynede as with ryfe greuaunces to a nye dethe. 1543 Surrey Satire agst. Citizens London, Synnes, that groo Within thy wicked walls so ryfe. 1575 Troubles about Com. Prayer 138 Siknesse beinge so riffe in this citye. 1616 R. C. Time's Whistle (1871) 68 'Mongst such men are rife These damnd opinions. 1692 Bentley Boyle Lect. 29 So other epidemical vices..are rife and predominant only for a season. 1705 Stanhope Paraphr. II. 101 It is rife and catching, swelling from less to greater. 1756 C. Lucas Ess. Waters I. 182 Though this disorder be too rife in our country, I see no just cause for pronouncing it endemial. 1816 J. Wilson City of Plague iii. iv, I wonder where will imposition end Thus rife within the dwellings of the dead! 1849 Miss Mitford in L'Estrange Life (1870) III. 216 It [small-pox] has been most rife in the neighbourhood, and very heavy. 1871 Freeman Norm. Conq. (1876) IV. 118 Even where no open outbreak took place, local conspiracies were everywhere rife. |
b. Of good or neutral things or conditions.
| c 1205 Lay. 32107 Þenne scullen i Bruttene blissen wurðen riue. c 1320 Cast. Love 150 Þere joye and blisse is so ryue. 1423 Jas. I Kingis Q. cxxi, The songis new, the fresch carolis and dance,..That quhilum was amongis thame so ryf. c 1475 Rauf Coilȝear 170, I haue oft tymes bene quhair gude has bene ryfe. 1531 Tindale Exp. 1 John (1537) 91 Hys wyshynge is playne ynoughe, for it is so ryfe in other Epistles. 1594 Blundevil Exerc. iv. l. (1636) 518 What winds and currents were most rife in every place. 1601 Holland Pliny II. 565 As for Dipœnus, his workes were rife in Ambracia. 1725 De Foe Voy. round World (1840) 301 Wagers were very rife among us. 1840 Dickens Old C. Shop v, The activity and noise of city day were rife in the street. 1878 Huxley Physiogr. 203 An area in which volcanic action must have been rife on an enormous scale. |
† c. Customary or common to or with a person.
| c 1430 Hymns Virgin (1867) 124 Man, hytt was þe [= to thee] fulle ryve To swere be my wowndys fyve. 1573 New Custom ii. ii, Then shall you perceive that Hypocrisy is rife To all kind of men. 1654 Gataker Disc. Apol. 3 For it is a rife matter with thee to hear ill language from others, and as ready a matter to return the like again. |
2. a. Of rumours, reports, etc.: Common or generally current in popular knowledge or talk.
In quots. 1390 and 1564 not clearly distinct from sense 3.
| 1338 R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 26 Men sais in Lyncoln castelle ligges ȝit a stone;..þat saw is ȝit rife. 1390 Gower Conf. I. 213 Two Sones..Whos fame is yit in Grece rif. 1564 Haward Eutropius To Rdr. 4 Those gestes of such men are so ryfe in memory, that in manner they do yet lyve. 1599 Broughton's Let. 48 It was rife that you were proued mad. 1600 Holland Livy ii. xxxii. 65 This is the rifer report, and goeth more currant, than that whereof Piso is the author. 1635 R. N. tr. Camden's Hist. Eliz. ii. 111 The rumour of the marriage waxed more and more rife. 1667 Milton P.L. i. 650 Whereof so rife There went a fame in Heav'n. 1792 Burke Corr. (1844) IV. 31 The reports which they circulate..grow more rife than ever. 1856 Froude Hist. Eng. (1858) II. xi. 473 A rumour of the queen's arrest was rife in London. 1894 Standard 8 Oct., The reports which are rife as to a hostile squadron having been sighted. |
b. Of words or phrases: Commonly or frequently employed or heard; esp. in the phrase rife in (one's) mouth. Now rare.
| 1513 Douglas æneis i. Prol. 381 [Words] Quhilkis ar als rife amange clerkis in scule As euir fowlis plungit in laik. 1534 More Comf. agst. Trib. iii. Wks. 1249/2 The manifolde foolishe vnfaythfull woordes which are so ryfe in our manye mouthes. 1562 Turner Herbal ii. 37 But what if thys were a ryfe phrase in Pliny? 1611 Speed Hist. Gt. Brit. vi. xviii. §5. 100 Hauing that Apothegme of Scipio Africanus rife in his mouth. 1671 Milton Samson 866 That grounded maxim So rife and celebrated in the mouths Of wisest men. 1878 Browning La Saisiaz 68 What's the adage rife in man's mouth? |
† c. Common, trivial. Obs. rare—1.
| 1598 Bp. Hall Sat. iv. i. 161 O Esculape! how rife is phisicke made, When each brasse-basen can professe the trade. |
† 3. Widely known, famous, renowned. Obs.
| c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 232 Name he gaf hire ðat is ful Rif. a 1300 Cursor M. 8531 Homer þe poet, þat was sa rijf, Liued in þis king dauid lijf. 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 3242 Here fayrhede was yn renoun ryfe. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xxvi. (Nicholas) 967 Þane þe Iow ryf has mad þis merakle. c 1407 Lydg. Reason & Sens. 1879 Kyng Pelleus..Helde a feste, as hit is ryfe, At the weddyng of his wyf. c 1470 Harding Chron. Proem x. 4 [He] begatte on her Philip, his doughter ryue. |
4. Abundant, plentiful, ample; large in quantity or number; numerous: a. With plural ns.
| α c 1205 Lay. 14542 Þa hæðene weoren swa riue, & auere heo comen beliue. 1340–70 Alex. & Dind. 160 For skaþe of the scorpionus askape þei ne miȝhte, So riue romede þei þe riuer bi-side. c 1400 Gamelyn 783 Gamelyn and his men made myrthes Ryve. c 1425 Cast. Persev. 629 in Macro Plays 96 Lykynge! be-lyue late clothe hym swythe In robys ryve With ryche a-ray. |
| β a 1300 Cursor M. 7695 For-þi he hight þam giftes rijf, Þat suld bring dauid of his lijf. 1399 Langl. Rich. Redeles ii. 5 Hertis y-heedyd,..So ryff as they ronne ȝoure rewme þoru-oute. c 1450 St. Cuthbert (Surtees Soc.) 8 So mony myracles in his lyfe, And eftir his dede in rewmes ryfe. 1549–62 Sternhold & H. Ps. xvii. 15 Worldly men, to whom all worldly goodes are rife. 1551 Robinson tr. More's Utop. i. (1895) 43 Theues neuertheles were in euery place so ryffe and ranke. 1612 T. Taylor Comm. Titus i. 6 The last times, wherin the spirits of error shall be more rife than euer. 1627 Hakewill Apol. 129 Direfull comets never rifer were. 1725 Ramsay Gentle Sheph. i. ii, It's a heartsom thing to be a wife, When round the ingle-edge young sprouts are rife. 1732 Fielding Lottery i. i, Folly's a fund Will never lose ground, While fools are so rife in the nation. 1849 Murchison Siluria v. 100 Such igneous rocks are rife upon a similar..line. 1860 Reade Cloister & H. xxxvii, Great store of deer, and wild boars rife as flies at midsummer. |
b. With sing. ns.
| α c 1230 Hali Meid. 9 [Thou] hauest ifunden weane þrin, & wondraðe riue. Ibid. 29 Alle worldes wele ham is inoh riue. c 1290 St. Edmund 57 in S. Eng. Leg. I. 433 Ore louerdes swete grace with him was wel riue. 14.. Sir Beues (M) 15745 Sorowe he had Full ryve, Wery he was of his lyve. |
| β c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 1252 Of him cam kinde mikil and rif. a 1300 E.E. Psalter (Eg.) xxvi. 1 Lauerd mi lihting, mi hele so rife. c 1400 Destr. Troy 1117 We shall haue riches full riffe & red gold ynogh. c 1440 J. Capgrave Life St. Kath. iii. 1280 Þis tokne eke beryth wytnesse full ryffe. 1522 More De quat. Noviss. Wks. 89/2 If money bee not so rife with them. 1598 Yong Diana 28 This greefe which I feele so rife,..I doe deserue as hire. 1615 W. Lawson Country Housew. Gard. (1626) 30 In the latter end of the time of grafting, when sap is somewhat rife. 1632 Lithgow Trav. v. 208, I saw..Rose-water here in barrels, to be sold, as beere or wine is rife with vs. 1790 Morison Poems 130 (E.D.D.), Wha gets the lad she loves, tho' gear's nae rife, May pass a calm, a lov'd and happy life. 1842 Lytton Zanoni iv. ii, Where the foliage was rifest. |
† c. Strong, loud-sounding. Obs. rare.
| 1634 Milton Comus 203 Eev'n now the tumult or loud Mirth Was rife, and perfet in my list'ning ear. |
† d. As n. Abundance, plenty. Obs.—1
| 1723 Ramsay Fair Assembly viii, Attend th' Assembly, where there's rife Of virtuous maids to please ye. |
5. Characterized by abundance or plenty of, rich or abounding in, something. Now rare.
| 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 87 Þe saxons þo in her poer þo hii were so riue, Seve kynges made in engelond. a 1300 Cursor M. 14837 Again his word mai naman strijf, O resun be he neuer sa rijf. a 1440 Sir Eglam. 1041 When y am dedd, thou getyst no pere, Of ryches thou art so ryfe. 1509 Barclay Shyp of Folys (1874) II. 31 He that in his costes is so ryfe. 1559 Mirr. Mag., Clarence xxxviii, In al good knowledge rife. a 1591 H. Smith Wks. (1867) II. 475 His life is rife in pains and fears. 1621 Sanderson Serm. (1681) 185 The Present Age is Rife of many enormous crying Sins. 1711 Ramsay Maggy Johnstoun xiv, Of warldly comforts she was rife. 1725 ― Gentle Sheph. i. ii, When my Pate in bairns and gear grows rife. 1809 Campbell Gert. Wyom. i. ix, I boast no song in magic wonders rife. |
b. Amply provided, plentifully endowed, etc., with something.
| 1787 Generous Attachment I. 209 This great world is all too rife with calamity. 1826 E. Irving Babylon iv. I. 253 The very air and atmosphere is rife with delusion. 1852 Tennyson Ode Wellington vii. 183 Whose life was work, whose language rife With rugged maxims hewn from life. 1878 Browning La Saisiaz 43 How rife Life were with delights. |
6. Disposed or inclined; ready, prompt; quick. Const. for, † of, † to. Now dial.
| c 1430 Hymns Virgin (1867) 110 To sulle and buye ȝif þou be ryf, Wayte al way þat wrong be went. c 1450 St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 7560 Few of þaim leuyd monkis lyfe, Bot all to ryote ware þai ryfe. 1549–62 Sternhold & H. Ps. xciv. 21 In their counsels they are rife To shed the guiltlesse bloud. 1567 Golding Ovid's Met. vi. (1593) 138 Flags that in these moorish plots so rife of growing beene. 1573 Tusser Husb. (1878) 188 Buie thee a knife, else looke for a caruer not alway too rife. 1650 Fuller Pisgah i. ii. 35 Thus the Samaritan woman had it rife in her mouth, our Father Jacob. 1680 Bunyan Holy War (1905) 327 Such as would seem..very rife and hot for Religion. 1855 Robinson Whitby Gloss. s.v., ‘Rife for a row’... ‘Come be rife and let's be off.’ |
† b. Easy. Obs. rare.
| 1557 in Tottel's Misc. (Arb.) 204 A gemme of woman⁓hed,..As is not rife to finde the like againe. 1589 Puttenham Eng. Poesie ii. xi[i]. (Arb.) 108 With Gods it is rife To geue and bereue breath. 1597 Bp. Hall Sat. iii. i. 54 Hath utmost Inde ought better then his owne? Then utmost Inde is neare, and rife to gone. |
B. adv. (Cf. MDu. and MDa. rive, MSw. riva.)
† 1. Numerously; in large numbers. Obs.
| 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 5039 Hii þat bileuede aliue Ne miȝte noȝt al burye þat folc þat deide so Riue. Ibid. 5219 Þe deneys come bi him riuore þan hii dude er. |
2. Abundantly, copiously, largely; manifoldly.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 17853 Godd, þat..has us kyd þi right sa rif. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 5733 Of his miracles men spake ryf. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) I. 399 Al þat nedeþ to þe lyue Þat lond bryngeþ forþ ful ryue. 1577–82 Breton Toyes Wks. (Grosart) I. 26/2 Some syng and daunce for lyfe, some Carde and Dyce as ryfe. 1579 Lyly Euphues Wks. 1902 I. 189 The Pestilence doth most ryfest infect the cleerest complection. 1838 Prescott Ferd. & Is. (1846) I. xi. 445 Wolfsbane, which grew rife in the Sierra Nevada. |
† 3. Frequently, often. Obs.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 28486 Mi spuseil haf i broken rife. c 1430 Hymns Virgin (1867) 92 Of þi liuynge be-þinke þee rijfe, In open & in priuite. 1557 Tottel's Misc. (Arb.) 157 The highest tree in all the woode is rifest rent with blustring windes. 1575 Turberv. Faulconrie 267 The most ordinarie hurtes which doe ryfest happen to hawkes. a 1618 Sylvester Panaretus 1193 Meeting (rife) Their length of Bliss by their dear length of Life. |
† 4. Promptly, speedily, readily. Obs.
| 1338 R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 68 To Richere þat was erle, men told it fulle rif. c 1350 Medical MS. in Archaeologia XXX. 365 Who so take a bene weyte Off powdyr of betonye..And ete it sone after his sopere ryf [etc.]. c 1450 Lovelich Grail xiii. 949 Thus to him he sente Anon ful Ryf. c 1525 Tale of the Basyn 20 in Hazl. E.P.P. III. 45 Alle his wyves biddyng he did it full ryve. |