▪ I. † riche, rike Obs.
Forms: α. 1–2 r{iacu}c(e, 2–4 riche, 3–4 ryche. β. 4–5 rik(e, 5 ryk(e.
[Common Teutonic: OE. r{iacu}ce, = OFris. rîke, rîk (mod.Fris. ryk), MDu. rike, rijc, ric (Du. rijk), OS. rîki (MLG. rike, ryke, LG. rîk), OHG. rîchi, rîhhi, etc. (G. reich), ON. r{iacu}ki (Norw. and Sw. rike, Da. rige), Goth. reiki, a derivative from the stem of reiks rich a.]
A kingdom, realm, royal domain; also, royal power or estate, sovereignty.
| α Beowulf (Z.) 1390 Aris, rices weard; uton hraþe feran. c 897 K. ælfred Gregory's Past. C. l. 391 He him sealde ricu oðerra kynrena. 971 Blickl. Hom. 187 Ure bisceopas ᵹeond eal Romana rice. c 1000 ælfric Saints' Lives xviii. 13 God..hine of his rice awearp. a 1122 O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.) an. 1102, Se hæfde þone eorldom..& micel rice þær to. c 1200 Ormin 7011 Himm ȝifenn wass þatt riche. a 1225 Leg. Kath. 47, I þe moderburh of Alixandres riche. 1390 Gower Conf. I. 118 To sechen al the worldes riche, Ther was no womman forto love. |
| β a 1300 Havelok 290 Sho was þe rithe eyr Of engelond, of al þe rike. 13.. Cursor M. 24821 (Edinb.), Til erlis and baruns of þat rik Þan gaf he serkin giftis rik. c 1400 Rule St. Benet 2238 Þen sal þe bisschop of þat rike Swilk a priores sone depose. c 1470 Henry Wallace ii. 359 Bot Wallace..In Ingland fer socht battaill on that rik. |
b. The kingdom of God or of heaven.
| α a 900 O.E. Martyrol. 7 Mar., He..ᵹesohte þa heofonlico rico. a 900 Cynewulf Crist 1527 Bið þonne rices Weard..yrre ond eᵹesful. 971 Blickl. Hom. 31 Se þe stiᵹeþ ofer þa þrym-setl heofona rices. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 59 His riche is al þis middeleard, Eorðe & heofene. c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 67 Cumeð ȝe blescede, and underfoð þat riche þat ȝiu is iȝarked. c 1220 Bestiary 732 Hise loðe men sulen to helle faren, hise leue to his riche. a 1310 in Wright Lyric P. xxxiii. 94 Bring us to thin riche ther is joie most. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xiv. 179 Conforte þi careful..in þi ryche. |
| β 13.. Cursor M. 11979 (Gött.), Þu was neuer ne es worthi Mi faþer rike part of to gete. a 1340 Hampole Psalter xvii. 31 Takand me out of þis lif in til þi rike. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints ii. (Paul) 209 Þane paule þam prechit..of criste,..of his gret Joy, and of his ryk. c 1440 Bone Flor. 1809 [She] preyed god..That he wolde bryng hur to that ryke. |
▪ II. riche
obs. form of reach v.1