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START / NODE 770Present-Day Englishbefore 12th century–today
rich
Having wealth, abundance, value, or intensity; continuing a medieval convergence of English and French forms from a Germanic power word.
“Rich was powerful before it was simply wealthy, and its Germanic ancestor was itself borrowed from the Celtic king family.”OPEN COMPLETE WORD DOSSIER ↗
EVERY REVIEWED PARENT, NOT ONE EDITORIAL PATH
FOLLOW EVERY BRANCH.
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01
PARENT ROUTES1 REVIEWED RELATIONSHIP
Present-Day Englishrich
wealthy, abundant, valuable, or intense
↑GO DEEPER
Middle English · Middle Englishrichewealthy, powerful, rich
- SOUND CHANGE
- Modern rich continues Middle English riche through English spelling and sound history.
- SEMANTIC CHANGE
- Power and wealth broaden across abundance, value, color, flavor, and intensity.
- SCHOLAR
- Merriam-Webster Editors · American Heritage Dictionary Editors
- CONFIDENCE
- established
- CHRONOLOGY
- Merriam-Webster reports use before the twelfth century.
2 CITATIONSRich — Definition, Word History, and First Known UseDefinitions, Word History, and First Known Use Rich — American Heritage DictionaryHeadword definitions and etymology AUDIT CANONICAL EDGE 770 ↗
Supplies Middle English riche, broad meanings, and pre-twelfth-century horizon.
ORIGINAL ↗Independently supplies the medieval convergence.
ORIGINAL ↗THE ASTERISK IS A PROMISE
RECONSTRUCTION IS
NOT INSCRIPTION.
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