riches
(ˈrɪtʃɪz)
Also 4–6 ryches (5 rychches, 6 rytches); 5 ricches, risches, 6 ritches; 5 re(c)ches, -ez.
[var. of next, assuming the form of a pl., and finally construed as such.
The conversion into the pl. form may have been assisted by L. divitiæ. In older Sc. texts, where the usual ending of the pl. is -is, the form riches properly belongs to next.]
1. Abundance of means or of valuable possessions; wealth. Also, in certain constructions, the possession of wealth, the condition of being rich.
| c 1205 Lay. 8091 Wæs at-foren þan wæfde imaked an wunlic fur; þe king warp riches þer in. a 1300 Cursor M. 8129 Þe riches þat þai wit þam ledd, þai offerd in þat ilk stedd. c 1330 Amis & Amil. 761 No be thou neuer so pouer of kinde, Riches anough Y may the finde. c 1380 Wyclif Wks. (1880) 369 Þe temporal lordis ben not in noumbre and in ryches lyke as þai wer sum tyme. c 1400 Mandeville (Roxb.) v. 17 A full faire citee and full of ricches. c 1491 Chast. Goddes Chyld. 69 Riches and worshippes ben but lente to man for a tyme. 1531 Tindale Exp. 1 John (1537) 101 Here is not forbidden to haue riches. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 117 b, He had a good witte, &..had attayned to great ryches. 1610 Holland Camden's Brit. (1637) 428 In processe of time..their riches turned to their ruine. 1671 Milton P.R. ii. 427 Get Riches first, get Wealth, and Treasure heap. 1741–2 Gray Agrip. 78 The riches of the earth, the train of pleasures. 1776 A. Smith W.N. i. xi. (1904) I. 196 With the greater part of rich people the chief enjoyment of riches consists in the parade of riches. 1851 Helps Comp. Solit. iii. (1874) 34 Their riches furnished forth abundant armies. 1862 Ruskin Unto this Last iii. 103 The attraction of riches is already too strong. |
| personif. 1704 Swift Batt. Bks. Wks. 1751 I. 189 War is the Child of Pride, and Pride the Daughter of Riches. |
b. transf. or
fig.| 1586 Spenser Astrophel 62 On her he spent the riches of his wit. 1646 H. P. Medit. Seige 136 Another kinde of riches, the riches of thy glory, and the riches of thy mercie. 1721 Swift Propos. Use of Irish Manuf., People are the Riches of a Country. 1765 Museum Rust. V. 122 To lead out the riches of a pond..which had been..never thoroughly cleaned during near thirty years. 1824 Landor Imag. Conv., Milton & Marvel, The writings of the wise are the only riches our posterity can not squander. |
† 2. Construed as a
sing. Also, a particular form of wealth.
Obs.| c 1330 Arth. & Merl. 3583 (Kölbing), Of ich riches & deinte, Certes, þer was gret plente. a 1400–50 Alexander 3951 Þare reches was of redde gold & many riche gemes. c 1449 Pecock Repr. iii. viii. 326 That ricches is not cause of eny synne mai be proued thus. 1545 Brinklow Compl. iii. (1874) 14 The riches of men hath helpyd many an honest man to his death. 1586 T. B. La Primaud. Fr. Acad. i. 69 All riches is of it selfe blinde, and bringeth no light to the soule. 1632 Massinger City Madam i. iii, Not that riches Is, or should be, contemn'd, it being a blessing Derived from heaven. 1667 Waterhouse Fire London 30 This riches..was as well devoured by the Suburbian thieves. |
† b. transf. or
fig. Obs.| 1513 Bradshaw St. Werburge i. 318 Bytwyx them descended a precyous ryches: The blessyd Ermenylde. 1586 T. B. La Primaud. Fr. Acad. (1589) 51 This pretious and inestimable riches, I meane of vertue. c 1600 Shakes. Sonn. lxxxvii, For that ritches where is my deseruing? 1622 Wither Philarete (1633) 714 Floras riches in a row Doth in seemely order grow. |
3. Construed as a plural.
| c 1374 Chaucer Boeth. ii. met. ii. (1868) 35 As many recches [L. tantas opes] as þe see turneþ vpwardes sandes. 1535 Coverdale Prov. xix. 4 Riches make many frendes. 1559 Mirr. Mag., Hen. VI, xvii, In heaven wer my rytches heapt. 1612 Bacon Ess., Riches (Arb.) 232 As Salomon saith; Riches are as a strong hold. 1691 Locke Lowering Interest 8 Riches do not consist in having more gold and silver. 1732 Pope Ep. Bathurst 169 Riches, like insects,..Wait but for Wings. 1755 Young Centaur iii. Wks. 1757 IV. 165 There are two kinds of expence; in both, riches make themselves wings, and fly away. 1838 Dickens Nich. Nick. i, That riches are the only true source of happiness and power. |
† 4. Richness; great worth.
Obs. rare.
| 1547 Bk. of Marchauntes b vj b, Yet wyl it not..laugh nor stier at the beautie of the cloth nor at the riches of the crosse. a 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. VIII, 74 There lacked neither Pearles nor Stones of riches. |