rid Meaning, Definition & Usage

Rid

Definitions

1. imp. & p. p. of Ride, v. i. Archaic

   He rid to the end of the village, where he alighted. Thackeray.

Rid transitive verb

Etymology

OE. ridden, redden, AS. hreddan to deliver, liberate; akin to D. & LG. redden, G. retten, Dan. redde, Sw. rädda, and perhaps to Skr. rath to loosen.

Wordforms

imperfect & past participle Rid ∨ Ridded; present participle & verbal noun Ridding

Definitions

1. To save; to rescue; to deliver; -- with out of. Obs.

   Deliver the poor and needy; rid them out of the hand of the wicked. Ps. lxxxii. 4.

2. To free; to clear; to disencumber; -- followed by of. "Rid all the sea of pirates." Shak.

   In never ridded myself of an overmastering and brooding sense of some great calamity traveling toward me. De Quincey.

3. To drive away; to remove by effort or violence; to make away with; to destroy. Obs.

   I will red evil beasts out of the land. Lev. xxvi. 6.

   Death's men, you have rid this sweet young prince! Shak.

4. To get over; to dispose of; to dispatch; to finish. R. "Willingness rids way." Shak.

   Mirth will make us rid ground faster than if thieves were at our tails. J. Webster.