ripe Meaning, Definition & Usage

adjective fully developed or matured and ready to be eaten or used
mature.
- ripe peaches
- full-bodied mature wines
adjective satellite fully prepared or eager
- the colonists were ripe for revolution
adjective satellite most suitable or right for a particular purpose
good; right.
- a good time to plant tomatoes
- the right time to act
- the time is ripe for great sociological changes
adjective satellite at the highest point of development especially in judgment or knowledge
- a ripe mind
adjective satellite far along in time
advanced.
- a man of advanced age
- advanced in years
- a ripe old age
- the ripe age of 90

L. ripa.

AS. ripe; akin to OS. ripi, D. rijp, G. rief, OHG. rift; cf. AS. rip harvest, ripan to reap. Cf. Reap.

comparative Riper ; superlative Ripest

Ready for reaping or gathering; having attained perfection; mature; -- said of fruits, seeds, etc.; as, ripe grain.
So mayst thou live, till, like ripe fruit, thou drop Into thy mother's lap. Milton.
Advanced to the state of fitness for use; mellow; as, ripe cheese; ripe wine.
Having attained its full development; mature; perfected; consummate. "Ripe courage." Chaucer.
He was a scholar, and a ripe and good one. Shak.
Maturated or suppurated; ready to discharge; -- said of sores, tumors, etc.
Ready for action or effect; prepared.
While things were just ripe for a war. Addison.

I am not ripe to pass sentence on the gravest public bodies. Burke.
Like ripened fruit in ruddiness and plumpness.
Those happy smilets, That played on her ripe lip. Shak.
Intoxicated. Obs. "Reeling ripe." Shak. Syn. -- Mature; complete; finished. See Mature.