Word: rid Part of Speech: verb Etymology: 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 *hraddjan (“to rescue, save”), from Proto-Germanic *hradjaną (“to rescue, save; to free; to loosen”), possibly ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kret- (“to move quickly; to rattle; to shake”); and * Middle English reden (“to arrange; to get ready, prepare; to put in order, tidy; to remove debris, obstructions, etc., from (a place), to clear; to unblock; etc.”) (whence rede (chiefly Scotland, archaic)), from Old English rǣdan, Early Old English rēdan, from Proto-West Germanic *raidijan (“to arrange”), from Proto-Germanic *raidijaną (“to arrange”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂rey- (“to arrange; to count, count out”). The adjective is derived from rid, the past participle of the verb. The noun is derived from the verb. As regards noun etymology 1, noun sense 1 (“progress which has been made; speed”), compare verb etymology 1, verb sense 1.4.5 (“to complete or get through (a task, or work)”). cognates * Dutch redden (“to save, deliver”) * German retten (“to save, deliver”), reuten (“to clear”), roden (“to clear”) * Old Frisian hredda (“to save”) * Old Norse hrōðja (“to clear, strip”), Old Norse ryðja (“to clear, empty”) Pronunciation: /ɹɪd/ 1. Followed by of: to free (oneself or someone, or a place) from an annoyance or hindrance. Labels: also, reflexive, transitive Example: I’m glad to be rid of that stupid nickname. Example: We’re trying to rid the world of poverty. 2. Followed by away, from, or out of: to remove (oneself or someone, or something, that is annoying, troublesome, or unwanted). Labels: also, reflexive, transitive Example: 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. Example: 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 dayes: […] 3. Often followed by from, of, or out of: to free or release, or to rescue or save, (oneself or someone, or something). Labels: reflexive, transitive Example: [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 preſt commaunde to rydde all thynge out of the houſe or euer the preſt go in to ſe yͤ plage, leſt all that is in the houſe be made vncleane. Example: 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 like ſtrawe, which yf it be kindled with fyre, no man maye rydde it for the vehemence of the flame: […] 4. To clear (a place or way); especially, to clear (land) of trees, undergrowth, etc. Labels: archaic, transitive Example: 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). Labels: archaic, transitive Example: This Gloſter ſhould be quickly rid the VVorld, / To rid vs from the feare vve haue of him. Example: The furious Tybalt caſt an enuious thruſt [of the rapier], / That rid the life of ſtout Mercutio. 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). Labels: archaic, transitive Example: 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. 7. Followed by up: to eradicate (something); to root out, to uproot. Labels: archaic, transitive 8. Sometimes followed by away or off: to complete or get through (a task, or work). Labels: Shropshire, archaic, transitive Example: 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: […] Example: [T]he Printer, in one day ſhall rid / More Books, then yerſt a thouſand VVrighters did. 9. Often followed by up: to put (a place, such as a room or a table) in order; to clear, to tidy. Labels: US, rare, regional, transitive Example: 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. Example: The four breakfasted by the thin light, and the ‘house-ridding’ was taken in hand. 10. To dismiss (someone) who has attended on a person; (reflexive) to remove (oneself) from a person's presence after attending to them. Labels: obsolete, transitive Example: We be able ynough to rydde vs of this mater without the [thee]: […] Example: [A] Judge riddeth a perſone aunſweryng before hym to the lawe at the barre. 11. To settle (a disagreement). Labels: obsolete, transitive Example: 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. 12. Followed by of: to deprive (oneself or someone) of something; to strip. Labels: also, obsolete, reflexive, transitive Example: [Parradio] Reſolude to ſlay the Prince, / And ridde him of his lyfe: […] 13. To get away from or get out of (a place); to escape. Labels: obsolete, rare, transitive Example: But if I my Cage can rid, / I'le flye vvhere I neuer did. 14. To clear land or some other place. Labels: archaic, intransitive 15. To clear or empty the stomach; also, to clear the throat. Labels: West-Midlands, archaic, intransitive 16. Of work: to be completed. Labels: Northern-England, intransitive, obsolete Example: The Huntsman now calls in his Houndes, and at the fall of the Deere the Hornes goe apace: Now beginne the Horses to breathe, and the Labourer to sweat, and with quicke hands, worke rids apace: […]