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Webster 1913 Edition


Rife

Rife

,
Adj.
[AS.
rīf
abundant, or Icel.
rīfr
munificent; akin to OD.
riff
,
rijve
, abundant.]
1.
Prevailing; prevalent; abounding.
Before the plague of London, inflammations of the lungs were
rife
and mortal.
Arbuthnot.
Even now the tumult of loud mirth
Was
rife
, and perfect in may listening ear.
Milton.
2.
Having power; active; nimble.
[Obs.]
What! I am
rife
a little yet.
J. Webster.
Rife′ly
,
adv.
Rife′ness
,
Noun.

Webster 1828 Edition


Rife

RIFE

,
Adj.
[Heb. to multiply.]
Prevailing; prevalent. It is used of epidemic diseases.
The plague was then rife in Hungary.

Definition 2024


Rife

Rife

See also: rife and rifé

Portuguese

Proper noun

Rife m

  1. Rif (a traditional region in northern Morocco)

rife

rife

See also: Rife and rifé

English

Adjective

rife (comparative rifer, superlative rifest)

  1. Widespread, common (especially of unpleasant or harmful things).
    Smallpox was rife after the siege had been lifted.
    • Arbuthnot
      Before the plague of London, inflammations of the lungs were rife and mortal.
    • Milton
      The tumult of loud mirth was rife.
    • 1900, Sigmund Freud, The Interpretation of Dreams, Avon Books, (translated by James Strachey) pg. 170:
      The 'denominational considerations' mentioned below relate, of course, to anti-Semitic feeling, which was already rife in Vienna during the last years of the nineteenth century.
    • 2013, Daniel Taylor, Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic climbs highest to sink Benfica (in The Guardian, 15 May 2013)
      They will have to reflect on a seventh successive defeat in a European final while Chelsea try to make sense of an eccentric season rife with controversy and bad feeling but once again one finishing on an exhilarating high.
  2. Abounding; present in large numbers, plentiful.
    These woodlands are rife with red deer.
  3. (obsolete) Having power; active; nimble.
    • J. Webster
      What! I am rife a little yet.

Translations

Adverb

rife (comparative more rife, superlative most rife)

  1. Plentifully, abundantly.
    The snowdrops grow rife on the slopes of Mount Pembroke.

Translations

Anagrams


Spanish

Verb

rife

  1. First-person singular (yo) present subjunctive form of rifar.
  2. Formal second-person singular (usted) present subjunctive form of rifar.
  3. Third-person singular (él, ella, also used with usted?) present subjunctive form of rifar.