Link Centre Dictionary

rife

UK/ɹaɪf/ US/ˈraɪf/ uncommon obsolete

adjective

1.

encountered generally especially at the present time

  • “the prevailing opinion was that a trade war could be averted”
  • “the most prevalent religion in our area”
  • “speculation concerning the books author was rife”
Synonyms
Similar
2.

Origin

From Middle English rife, from Old English rīfe, rȳfe (“rife, abundant, frequent”), from Proto-West Germanic *rīb, from Proto-Germanic *rībaz (“generous”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁reyp- (“to tear (off), rip”). Cognate with West Frisian rju (“rife, much”), Dutch rijf (“abundant, copious”), Low German rive (“abundant, munificent”), Icelandic rífur (“rife, munificent”), Faroese ríviligur (“plentiful, abundant”), Faroese rívan (“abundantly”), Icelandic reifa (“to bestow”).

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