Definify.com
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
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.
Prevailing; prevalent. It is used of epidemic diseases.
The plague was then rife in Hungary.
Definition 2024
Rife
rife
rife
English
Adjective
rife (comparative rifer, superlative rifest)
- 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.
- Abounding; present in large numbers, plentiful.
- These woodlands are rife with red deer.
- (obsolete) Having power; active; nimble.
- J. Webster
- What! I am rife a little yet.
- J. Webster
Translations
Widespread, common (especially of unpleasant or harmful things)
Abounding; present in large numbers, plentiful
|
Adverb
rife (comparative more rife, superlative most rife)
- Plentifully, abundantly.
- The snowdrops grow rife on the slopes of Mount Pembroke.