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rich (rĭch)
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adj. rich·er, rich·est
1. Having great material wealth: He was so rich he didn't have to work.
2.
a. Having great worth or value: a rich harvest.
b. Made of or containing valuable materials: rich cabinetry.
c. Magnificent; sumptuous: a rich banquet.
3. Abundant or productive, as:
a. Having an abundant supply: Meat is rich in protein.
b. Abounding in natural resources: a rich region.
c. Having many nutrients for plant growth; fertile: rich land.
d. Very productive and therefore financially profitable: rich seams of coal.
4.
a. Containing a large amount of choice ingredients, such as butter, sugar, or eggs, and therefore unusually heavy or sweet: a rich dessert.
b. Strong in aroma or flavor: a rich coffee.
c. Containing a large proportion of fuel to air: a rich gas mixture.
5.
a. Pleasantly full and mellow: a rich tenor voice.
b. Warm and strong in color: a rich brown velvet.
6.
a. Highly varied: a museum showcasing a rich assortment of artworks.
b. Highly developed or complex: rich musical harmonies.
7. Informal Highly amusing, often for being absurd or preposterous.
n. (used with a pl. verb)
Wealthy people considered as a group. Often used with the: taxes paid by the very rich.
[Middle English riche, from Old French (of Germanic origin) and from Old English rīce, strong, powerful; see reg- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]
richly adv.
richness n.
Synonyms: rich, affluent, moneyed, wealthy
These adjectives mean having an abundant supply of money, property, or possessions of value: a rich executive; an affluent banker; moneyed heirs; wealthy corporations.
Antonym: poor
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

    Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

    Indo-European Roots

    Semitic Roots

    The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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