rich  (r ĭch)
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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. |
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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
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