rid

As the second word in a compound: synonym of ridden (“full of; also, dominated, oppressed, or plagued by”).

Adjective Northern England, archaic

  1. As the second word in a compound: synonym of ridden (“full of; also, dominated, oppressed, or plagued by”).
    • So Cupids faire mother be thy midvvife: out and alas I am mare rid, vvhat Somners Ghoſt or limme of Lucifer, puts poore Bordello in minde of pennance before he hath treſpaſſed? - 1610, Iohn [i.e., John] Mason, The...
  2. Only in well-rid: of a horse: ridden.
    • [F]ull ten thouſand horſe / Freſh and vvell rid ſtrong Maſſiniſſa leades / As vvinges to Roman legions that march ſvvift / Led by that man of conqueſt, Scipio. - 1605–1606 (first performance), Iohn [i.e., John] Marston,...

Origin

The adjective is derived from rid, the obsolete past participle form of ride.

Adjective archaic, not comparable

  1. Chiefly of a place: which has been ridded (etymology 1, verb sense 1.4.1) or cleared; rid-up.
    • We will make room for you! We will make a rid road from here to Winchester! - 1866, C[harles] Kingsley, “How They Held a Great Meeting in the Hall of Ely”, in Hereward the Wake, “Last of the English.” […], volume II,...

    Synonyms: quit

Origin

The verb is derived from Middle English ridden (“to remove debris, obstructions, etc., from (a place), to clear; to complete (something unfinished); to free (someone or something); to relieve (someone); etc.”), probably from Old English *ryddan (“to remove debris, obstructions, etc., from (a place), to clear”) (the past participle form ġeryd is attested), from Proto-Germanic *riudijaną (“to clear”), from Proto-Indo-European *Hrewdʰ- (“to clear land”), or possibly from *Hrew- (“to dig out, tear out; to open; to acquire”). The verb was probably also influenced by the following: * Middle English redden (“to rescue (someone), deliver, save; to rid (someone) of a burden; to free (someone)”) (from which redd (obsolete except Northern England, Scotland) is partly derived), from Old English hreddan (“to deliver, rescue, save; to free; to recover; to take away”), from Proto-West Germanic...

Noun

  1. Progress which has been made; also, speed.
    • Forkers are to bee foretolde that they give upp goode forkefulls [of hay], because the winde hath not soe much force and power to blowe it away, and likewise (by this meanes) it is sooner layde, and the loader comes...
  2. Loose earth, rubble, etc., on the surface of a quarry which must be removed before digging can begin; rid-work.

Verb also, reflexive

  1. Followed by of: to free (oneself or someone, or a place) from an annoyance or hindrance.
    • I’m glad to be rid of that stupid nickname.
    • We’re trying to rid the world of poverty.
    • Than thou madeſt heuẽ [heaven] free and rydde from all rebellion⸝ […] - [1526?], Erasmus Roterodamus, “The Seconde Peticion”, in [Margaret Roper], transl., A Deuoute Treatise vpon the Pater Noster, […], London: […]...

    Synonyms: deliver disencumber

  2. Followed by away, from, or out of: to remove (oneself or someone, or something, that is annoying, troublesome, or unwanted).
    • For the nature of the world is ſuch, that if any man rebuke the wickedneſſe thereof any thing ſharply, it ſéekes to rid them out of the way, too the intent it may ſinne the more licentiouſly. - 1569, Nicholas Heminge...
    • The waye to rydde this vyle diſeaſe and miſchiefe, is to beſtowe vpon the infected place, a medicine made of Gumme Dragaganthe, foure ownces, infuſed in the ſtrongeſt Uyneger that may bee gotten, by the ſpace of eyght...
    • [G]old he vvill giue her, / Theſe vvill I make induction to her ruine, / And rid ſhame from my houſe, griefe from my heart […] - c. 1607–1610 (date written), Thomas Middleton; Thomas Dekker, The Roaring Girle. Or Moll...
  3. Often followed by from, of, or out of: to free or release, or to rescue or save, (oneself or someone, or something).
    • [Y]f there happen a plage of leproſy in any houſe of youre poſſeſſion, then ſhal he that ow[n]eth the houſe, come and tell the preſt, and ſaye: Methynke there is as it were a plage of leproſy in my houſe. Then ſhal the...
    • Thou haſt hither to had many councels of them, ſo let the heauengaſers & the beholders of ſtarres, come on now and delyuer the: yea and let thẽ ſhewe, when theſe new thinges ſhall come vpon the. Beholde, they ſhalbe...
    • Then comes ſhe [Juliet] to me [Friar Laurence], / And vvith vvild lookes bid me deuiſe ſome meane / To rid her from this ſecond mariage: / Or in my Cell there vvould ſhe kill her ſelfe. - c. 1591–1595 (date written),...
  4. To clear (a place or way); especially, to clear (land) of trees, undergrowth, etc.
    • The vvaies […] Trajanius repaired, by paving vvith stone, or raiſing vvith banks caſt up ſuch peeces of them as vvere moiſt and miry; by ſtocking up & ridding ſuch as vvere rough and overgrovven vvith buſhes and briers:...
  5. Sometimes followed by away: to destroy or kill (someone).
    • This Gloſter ſhould be quickly rid the VVorld, / To rid vs from the feare vve haue of him. - 1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies,...
    • The furious Tybalt caſt an enuious thruſt [of the rapier], / That rid the life of ſtout Mercutio. - c. 1591–1595 (date written), [William Shakespeare], […] Romeo and Juliet. […] (First Quarto), London: […] Iohn Danter,...
  6. Sometimes followed by up: to remove obstacles or refuse from (a place); to clean, to clear out; specifically, to clear or empty (the stomach).
    • Come, lads, drink up your ale, and we'll just rid this corner, so as to have all clear for beginning at the wall as soon as 'tis light to-morrow. - 1872 September – 1873 July, Thomas Hardy, “‘To that Last Nothing under...
  7. Followed by up: to eradicate (something); to root out, to uproot.
  8. Sometimes followed by away or off: to complete or get through (a task, or work).
    • I Rydde buſyneſſe that I haue in hande I do it quyckly⸝ […] He is a quicke workeman he can rydde more worke in an houre than ſome can do in twayne: […] - 1530 July 28 (Gregorian calendar), Iohan Palsgraue [i.e., John...
    • [T]he Printer, in one day ſhall rid / More Books, then yerſt a thouſand VVrighters did. - 1608, [Guillaume de Salluste] Du Bartas, “[Du Bartas His Second Weeke, […]. Noah. […].] The Columnes. The IIII. Part of the II....
    • [I]t vvas great Aduantage, in the Ancient States of Sparta, Athens, Rome, and others, that they had the vſe of Slaues, vvhich commonly did rid thoſe Manufactures. But that is aboliſhed, in greateſt part, by the...
  9. Often followed by up: to put (a place, such as a room or a table) in order; to clear, to tidy.
    • VVhen you rid up the Parlour Hearth in a Morning, throvv the laſt Night's Aſhes into a Sieve; and vvhat falls through, as you carry it dovvn, vvill ſerve inſtead of Sand for the Room and the Stairs. - 1731 (date...
    • The four breakfasted by the thin light, and the ‘house-ridding’ was taken in hand. - 1891, Thomas Hardy, chapter LII, in Tess of the d’Urbervilles: A Pure Woman Faithfully Presented […], volume III, London: James...
  10. To dismiss (someone) who has attended on a person; (reflexive) to remove (oneself) from a person's presence after attending to them.
    • We be able ynough to rydde vs of this mater without the [thee]: […] - 1530 July 28 (Gregorian calendar), Iohan Palsgraue [i.e., John Palsgrave], “The Table of Verbes”, in Lesclarcissement de la langue francoyse⸝ […],...
    • [A] Judge riddeth a perſone aunſweryng before hym to the lawe at the barre. - 1564 February, Erasmus, “The Saiynges of Augustus Caeser”, in Nicolas Udall [i.e., Nicholas Udall], transl., Apophthegmes, that is to Saie,...
  11. To settle (a disagreement).
    • They [constables] ought to Rid Frays, and ſeek the Neighbours to aſſiſt for ſeparating the parties; and ſuch as hurt them may be puniſhed by the Juſtices. - 1707, William Forbes, “An Abstract of the Duty and Powers of...
  12. Followed by of: to deprive (oneself or someone) of something; to strip.
    • [Parradio] Reſolude to ſlay the Prince, / And ridde him of his lyfe: […] - 1569 (date written), [Pedro Mexía, Mambrino Roseo], “The Fifth Historie”, in George Turberuile [i.e.. George Turberville], transl., Tragicall...

Forms

rids ridding rid ridded ridden no-table-tags glossary riddest riddedst riddeth -

Derived

be rid of get rid of red riddance ridder ridding rid out rid up unrid uprid

Verb Northern England, archaic

  1. simple past and past participle of ride