Rich , v. t. To enrich. [Obs.]
Gower.
Rich , (r&ibreve;ch), a. [Compar. Richer
(&?;); superl. Richest.]
[OE. riche, AS. rīce rich, powerful; akin to OS.
rīki, D. rijk, G. reich, OHG. rīhhi, Icel. rīkr, Sw. rik, Dan.
rig, Goth. reiks;
from a word
meaning, ruler, king, probably borrowed from Celtic, and akin to L. rex, regis, king, regere to guide, rule. √283. See Right, and cf. Derrick, Enrich, Rajah, Riches, Royal.]
1. Having an abundance of material possessions;
possessed of a large amount of property; well supplied with land, goods, or money; wealthy; opulent; affluent; -- opposed to poor. "Rich
merchants." Chaucer.
The
rich [person] hath many friends.
Prov. xiv. 20. As a thief, bent
to unhoard the cash
Of
some rich burgher.
Milton.
2. Hence, in general, well supplied; abounding; abundant; copious; bountiful; as, a rich treasury; a rich entertainment;
a rich crop.
If life be short, it shall be glorious;
Each minute shall be rich in some great
action.
Rowe.
The gorgeous
East with richest hand
Showers on her kings barbaric pearl and gold.
Milton.
3. Yielding large returns; productive
or fertile; fruitful; as, rich soil or land; a rich mine.
4. Composed of valuable or costly materials or ingredients; procured at great outlay; highly valued; precious; sumptuous; costly; as, a
rich dress; rich silk or fur; rich presents.
Like to rich and various gems.
Milton. 5. Abounding in agreeable or nutritive qualities; -- especially applied to articles
of food or drink which are high-seasoned or abound in
oleaginous ingredients, or
are sweet, luscious, and high-flavored; as, a rich
dish; rich cream or soup; rich pastry; rich wine or fruit.
Sauces and rich spices are fetched from India.
Baker. 6. Not faint or
delicate; vivid; as, a rich
color.
7. Full of sweet
and harmonius sounds; as, a rich voice; rich music.
8. Abounding
in beauty; gorgeous; as, a rich landscape; rich scenery.
9.
Abounding in humor; exciting amusement; entertaining; as, the scene was
a rich one; a rich incident or character. [Colloq.]
Thackeray.
&fist; Rich is sometimes used in the formation of self- explaining compounds; as, rich-fleeced, rich-jeweled,
rich-laden, rich-stained.
Syn. -- Wealthy; affluent; opulent; ample; copious; abundant; plentiful; fruitful; costly; sumptuous; precious; generous; luscious.
Hear it pronounced