rid

See also: Appendix:Variations of "rid"

English

WOTD – 16 January 2025

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA^(key): /ɹɪd/

• Audio (General American):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɪd

Etymology 1

The verb is derived from Middle English ridden (“to remove debris, obstructions, etc., from (a place), to clear; to complete (something unfinished); to free (someone or something); to relieve (someone); etc.”), probably from Old English *ryddan (“to remove debris, obstructions, etc., from (a place), to clear”) (the past participle form ġeryd is attested), from Proto-Germanic *riudijaną (“to clear”), from Proto-Indo-European *rewdʰ- (“to clear land”), or possibly from *Hrew- (“to dig out, tear out; to open; to acquire”). The verb was probably also influenced by the following:

• Middle English redden (“to rescue (someone), deliver, save; to rid (someone) of a burden; to free (someone)”) (from which redd (obsolete except Northern England, Scotland) is partly derived), from Old English hreddan (“to deliver, rescue, save; to free; to recover; to take away”), from Proto-West Germanic *hraddjan (“to rescue, save”), from Proto-Germanic *hradjaną (“to rescue, save; to free; to loosen”), possibly ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kret- (“to move quickly; to rattle; to shake”); and
• Middle English reden (“to arrange; to get ready, prepare; to put in order, tidy; to remove debris, obstructions, etc., from (a place), to clear; to unblock; etc.”) (whence rede (chiefly Scotland, archaic)), from Old English rǣdan, Early Old English rēdan, from Proto-West Germanic *raidijan (“to arrange”), from Proto-Germanic *raidijaną (“to arrange”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂rey- (“to arrange; to count, count out”).

The adjective is derived from rid, the past participle of the verb. The noun is derived from the verb.

As regards noun sense 1 (“progress which has been made; speed”), compare verb sense 1.4.5 (“to complete or get through (a task, or work)”).

cognates

• Dutch redden (“to save, deliver”)
• German retten (“to save, deliver”), reuten (“to clear”), roden (“to clear”)
• Old Frisian hredda (“to save”)
• Old Norse hrōðja (“to clear, strip”), Old Norse ryðja (“to clear, empty”)

Verb

rid (third-person singular simple present rids, present participle ridding, simple past rid or ridded, past participle rid or ridded or (rare, nonstandard) ridden)

1. (transitive)
   1. (also reflexive) Followed by of: to free (oneself or someone, or a place) from an annoyance or hindrance.

      Synonyms: deliver, disencumber

      I’m glad to be rid of that stupid nickname.

      We’re trying to rid the world of poverty.

      • [1526?], Erasmus Roterodamus, “The Seconde Peticion”, in [Margaret Roper], transl., A Deuoute Treatise vpon the Pater Noster, […], London: […] Thomas Berthelet⸝ […] , →OCLC, signature d.iij., verso:

        Than thou madeſt heuẽ [heaven] free and rydde from all rebellion⸝ […]

      • 1530 July 28 (Gregorian calendar), Iohan Palsgraue [i.e., John Palsgrave], “The Table of Verbes”, in Lesclarcissement de la langue francoyse⸝ […], [London]: […] [Richard Pynson] fynnysshed by Iohan Haukyns, →OCLC, 3rd boke, folio cccxli, verso, column 2; reprinted Geneva: Slatkine Reprints, October 1972, →OCLC:

        If I coulde conuenyently rydde me of this felowe I wolde go with you wͭ [with] all my herte: […]

      • 1569, Nicholas Heminge [i.e., Niels Hemmingsen], “The Thirde Sunday in Aduent. The Exposition of the Text.”, in Arthur Golding, transl., A Postill, or Exposition of the Gospels that are Usually Red in the Churches of God, vpon the Sundayes and Feast Dayes of Saincts. […], London: […] Henry Bynneman […], for Lucas Harrison and George Byshop, →OCLC, folio 10, recto:

        [John the Baptist's disciples] myſtooke John too haue been the Meſſias. John to the intent too rid his diſciples of this errour, ſendeth them to Chryſt, too enquire of hym whether hée were the very Meſſias, or whether ſome other were ſtyll too bée looked for: […]

      • c. 1590–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Taming of the Shrew”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i], page 211, column 2:

        [W]ould I haue giuen him the beſt horſe in Padua to begin his vvoing that vvould thoroughly vvoe her, vved her, and bed her, and ridde the houſe of her.

      • [1595], “Containing Verie Godly Praiers for Comfort, Strength, and Deliuerie (by Gods Assistance) in All Sorrowes, Tribulations, Afflictions, and Aduersities. [A Praier of Any Captiue according to the Forme of Dauid, when He was had in the Caue. Psal[m] 142.]”, in [George Flinton], transl., A Manuall of Praiers, […], [Douai?]: [s.n.], →OCLC, folio N3, recto:

        [T]he Godly folke ſhall flocke about mee, and ſhall not ſtint to giue thee [God] thankes, vvhen they ſee that thou riddeſt mee foorth of their daungers, to the high praiſe of thy name, […]

      • 1667, John Milton, “Book VI”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC, lines 734–739:

        But vvhom thou hat'ſt, I hate, and can put on / Thy terrors, as I put thy mildneſs on, / Image of thee in all things; and ſhall ſoon, / Armed vvith thy might, rid heav'n of theſe rebell'd, / To thir prepar'd ill Manſion driven dovvn / To chains of Darkneſs, and th' undying VVorm, […]

      • 1726, [Daniel Defoe], “Of God’s Calling a Church out of the Midst of a Degenerate World, and of Satan’s New Measures upon that Incident: How He Attack’d Them Immediately, and His Success in Those Attacks”, in The Political History of the Devil, as well Ancient as Modern: […], London: […] T. Warner, […], →OCLC, part I, page 186:

        Thus Satan ridded his Hands of ten of the tvvelve Tribes [of Israel]; […]

      • 1727 September (date written), Jonathan Swift, “To Mrs. Howard”, in Thomas Sheridan, John Nichols, editors, The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, […], new edition, volume XII, London: […] J[oseph] Johnson, […], published 1801, →OCLC, page 257:

        I am therefore setting out for Ireland; and it is one comfort to me, that I am ridding you of a troublesome companion.

      • 1749, Henry Fielding, “In which is Seen a More Moving Spectacle, than All the Blood in the Bodies of Thwackum and Blifil and of Twenty Other Such, is Capable of Producing”, in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume II, London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, book V, page 219:

        [I]f you put the Lavvs in Execution, as you ought to do, you vvould ſoon rid the Country of theſe Vermin.

      • 1759 April 21, [Samuel Johnson?], “The Idler. No. 54.”, in The Universal Chronicle, or Weekly Gazette, volume II, number 55, London: […] R. Stevens, […], →OCLC, page 1, column 3:

        By her old friends ſhe is no longer very vvilling to be ſeen, but ſhe muſt not rid herſelf of them all at once; […]

      • 1865 May 15 – 1866 January 1, Anthony Trollope, “Passionate Pleading”, in The Belton Estate. […], volume II, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published December 1865 (indicated as 1866), →OCLC, page 289:

        On each of these days he saw Colonel Askerton, whom he found to be a civil pleasant man, willing enough to rid himself of the unpleasant task he had undertaken, but at the same time, willing also to continue his services if any further services were required of him.

      • 1872, Timothy D. Sullivan, “From the Accession of Henry, in 1154, to His Death in 1189”, in The Story of England. A Narrative of English History, from the Earliest Period to the Present Time. […], volume I (From the landing of Julius Cæsar to the Reign of Henry VIII), Dublin: A. M. Sullivan, →OCLC, page 116:

        "A curse on the cowardly varlets I have about me," said the King [Henry II of England], "who have left me so long exposed to his [Thomas Becket's] insolence. Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?"

        The quotation attributed to Henry II was first phrased in this way in 1740, but is said to be an inaccurate statement of what the king actually said: see Simon Schama (2000) A History of Britain: At the Edge of the World? 3000 BC – AD 1603, London: BBC Books, →ISBN, page 147.

      • 1964 May, “News and Comment: Minister Hamstrings BR Workshops”, in Modern Railways, Shepperton, Surrey: Ian Allan Publishing, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 291:

        If the Government believes that part of the railways' salvation is to be found in ridding them of extraneous concerns, it should have had the courage either to close the railway works down as quickly as possible, or to hive them off as an entirely separate concern, […]

      • 2014 March 9, Jacob Steinberg, “Wigan shock Manchester City in FA Cup again to reach semi-finals”, in Alan Rusbridger, editor, The Guardian‎^[1], London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2023-06-08:

        All the billions in the world and Manchester City still cannot rid themselves of the most persistent thorn in their side.

   2. (also reflexive) Followed by away, from, or out of: to remove (oneself or someone, or something, that is annoying, troublesome, or unwanted).
      • 1569, Nicholas Heminge [i.e., Niels Hemmingsen], “The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ according too the Order of the Storie, Compiled by Laying the Foure Euangelists Toogether. The Exposition of the Text.”, in Arthur Golding, transl., A Postill, or Exposition of the Gospels that are Usually Red in the Churches of God, vpon the Sundayes and Feast Dayes of Saincts. […], London: […] Henry Bynneman […], for Lucas Harrison and George Byshop, →OCLC, folio 121, recto:

        For the nature of the world is ſuch, that if any man rebuke the wickedneſſe thereof any thing ſharply, it ſéekes to rid them out of the way, too the intent it may ſinne the more licentiouſly.

      • 1575, Francesco Sforzino Vicentino, “A Treatise and Briefe Discourse, of the Cure of Spanels, when They be any Way Ouerheatte: […]”, in George Turberuile [i.e.. George Turberville], The Booke of Faulconrie or Hauking, for the Onely Delight and Plerasure of All Noblemen and Gentlemen: […], London: […] [Henry Bynneman] for Christopher Barker, […], →OCLC, page 366:

        The waye to rydde this vyle diſeaſe and miſchiefe, is to beſtowe vpon the infected place, a medicine made of Gumme Dragaganthe, foure ownces, infuſed in the ſtrongeſt Uyneger that may bee gotten, by the ſpace of eyght dayes: […]

      • c. 1607–1610 (date written), Thomas Middleton; Thomas Dekker, The Roaring Girle. Or Moll Cut-purse. […], London: […] [Nicholas Okes] for Thomas Archer, […], published 1611, →OCLC, [Act IV], signature [H4], verso:

        [G]old he vvill giue her, / Theſe vvill I make induction to her ruine, / And rid ſhame from my houſe, griefe from my heart […]

      • 1720, [Daniel Defoe], The Life, Adventures, and Pyracies, of the Famous Captain Singleton, London: […] J[ohn] Brotherton, […], J[ohn] Graves […], A[nne] Dodd, […], and T[homas] Warner, […], →OCLC, page 331:

        [I]ndeed I began ſincerely to hate my ſelf for a Dog, a VVretch that had been a Thief, and a Murtherer; […] I vvent about vvith my Heart full of theſe Thoughts, little better than a diſtracted Fellovv; in ſhort, running headlong into the dreadfulleſt Deſpair, and premeditated nothing but hovv to rid my ſelf out of the VVorld; […] nothing lay upon my Mind for ſeveral Days, but to ſhoot my ſelf into the Head vvith my Piſtol.

      • 2010 March 24, John H. Goodwin, chapter 41, in The Reluctant Spy, Bloomington, Ind.: AuthorHouse, →ISBN, page 293:

        Worst of all though were the leeches. The soldiers had managed to rid them from the camp interiors, but once you ventured out on patrol and into the wetlands, they were everywhere.

   3. (now only reflexive) Often followed by from, of, or out of: to free or release, or to rescue or save, (oneself or someone, or something).
      • 1535 October 14 (Gregorian calendar), Myles Coverdale, transl., Biblia: The Byble, […] (Coverdale Bible), [Cologne or Marburg]: [Eucharius Cervicornus and Johannes Soter?], →OCLC, Leuiticus xiiij:[34–36], folio xlviij, verso, column 1:

        [Y]f there happen a plage of leproſy in any houſe of youre poſſeſſion, then ſhal he that ow[n]eth the houſe, come and tell the preſt, and ſaye: Methynke there is as it were a plage of leproſy in my houſe. Then ſhal the preſt commaunde to rydde all thynge out of the houſe or euer the preſt go in to ſe yͤ plage, leſt all that is in the houſe be made vncleane.

      • 1535 October 14 (Gregorian calendar), Myles Coverdale, transl., Biblia: The Byble, […] (Coverdale Bible), [Cologne or Marburg]: [Eucharius Cervicornus and Johannes Soter?], →OCLC, Esay [Isaiah] xlvij:[13–14], folio xvij, verso, column 1:

        Thou haſt hither to had many councels of them, ſo let the heauengaſers & the beholders of ſtarres, come on now and delyuer the: yea and let thẽ ſhewe, when theſe new thinges ſhall come vpon the. Beholde, they ſhalbe like ſtrawe, which yf it be kindled with fyre, no man maye rydde it for the vehemence of the flame: […]

        Thou hast hitherto had many counsels of them, so let the heavengazers and the beholders of stars [astrologers], come on now and deliver thee: yea, and let them show when these new things shall come upon thee. Behold, they shall be like straw, which if it be kindled with fire, no man may rid [save] it for the vehemence of the flame: […]

      • c. 1591–1595 (date written), [William Shakespeare], […] Romeo and Iuliet. […] (Second Quarto), London: […] Thomas Creede, for Cuthbert Burby, […], published 1599, →OCLC, [Act V, scene iii], signature M, recto:

        Then comes ſhe [Juliet] to me [Friar Laurence], / And vvith vvild lookes bid me deuiſe ſome meane / To rid her from this ſecond mariage: / Or in my Cell there vvould ſhe kill her ſelfe.

      • 1843, [Frederick] Marryat, chapter XII, in Narrative of the Travels and Adventures of Monsieur Violet, in California, Sonora, & Western Texas. […], volume II, London: Longman, Brown, Green, & Longmans, […], →OCLC, page 257:

        We passed a large jaguar, glaring fiercely at a calf ten feet from him; […] Had we powder to waste, we would certainly have rid the graminivorous from many of their carnivorous neighbours, but we were now entering a tract of country celebrated for the depredations of the Texians and Buggles free bands, and every charge of powder thrown away was a chance the less, in case of a fight.

   4. (archaic)
      2. To clear (a place or way); especially, to clear (land) of trees, undergrowth, etc.
         • 1610, William Camden, “Romans in Britaine”, in Philémon Holland, transl., Britain, or A Chorographicall Description of the Most Flourishing Kingdomes, England, Scotland, and Ireland, […], London: […] [Eliot’s Court Press for] Georgii Bishop & Ioannis Norton, →OCLC, pages 63–64:

           The vvaies […] Trajanius repaired, by paving vvith stone, or raiſing vvith banks caſt up ſuch peeces of them as vvere moiſt and miry; by ſtocking up & ridding ſuch as vvere rough and overgrovven vvith buſhes and briers: […]

      3. Sometimes followed by away: to destroy or kill (someone).
         • 1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i], page 132, column 1:

           This Gloſter ſhould be quickly rid the VVorld, / To rid vs from the feare vve haue of him.

         • c. 1591–1595 (date written), [William Shakespeare], […] Romeo and Juliet. […] (First Quarto), London: […] Iohn Danter, published 1597, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i], signature F2, verso:

           The furious Tybalt caſt an enuious thruſt [of the rapier], / That rid the life of ſtout Mercutio.

      4. Sometimes followed by up: to remove obstacles or refuse from (a place); to clean, to clear out; specifically, to clear or empty (the stomach).
         • 1872 September – 1873 July, Thomas Hardy, “‘To that Last Nothing under Earth’”, in A Pair of Blue Eyes. […], volume II, London: Tinsley Brothers, […], published 1873, →OCLC, page 266:

           Come, lads, drink up your ale, and we'll just rid this corner, so as to have all clear for beginning at the wall as soon as 'tis light to-morrow.

      5. (Cheshire) Followed by up: to eradicate (something); to root out, to uproot.
      7. (Shropshire) Sometimes followed by away or off: to complete or get through (a task, or work).
         • 1530 July 28 (Gregorian calendar), Iohan Palsgraue [i.e., John Palsgrave], “The Table of Verbes”, in Lesclarcissement de la langue francoyse⸝ […], [London]: […] [Richard Pynson] fynnysshed by Iohan Haukyns, →OCLC, 3rd boke, folio cccxli, verso, column 1; reprinted Geneva: Slatkine Reprints, October 1972, →OCLC:

           I Rydde buſyneſſe that I haue in hande I do it quyckly⸝ […] He is a quicke workeman he can rydde more worke in an houre than ſome can do in twayne: […]

         • 1608, [Guillaume de Salluste] Du Bartas, “[Du Bartas His Second VVeeke, […]. Noah. […].] The Columnes. The IIII. Part of the II. Day of the II. Week.”, in Josuah Sylvester, transl., Du Bartas His Deuine Weekes and Workes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Humfrey Lownes [and are to be sold by Arthur Iohnson […]], published 1611, →OCLC, page 364:

           [T]he Printer, in one day ſhall rid / More Books, then yerſt a thouſand VVrighters did.

         • 1625, Francis [Bacon], “Of the True Greatnesse of Kingdomes and Estates. XXIX.”, in The Essayes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret, →OCLC, pages 177–178:

           [I]t vvas great Aduantage, in the Ancient States of Sparta, Athens, Rome, and others, that they had the vſe of Slaues, vvhich commonly did rid thoſe Manufactures. But that is aboliſhed, in greateſt part, by the Chriſtian Lavv.

         • 1680, Joseph Moxon, “Numb[er] X. Applied to the Art of Turning.”, in Mechanick Exercises, or The Doctrine of Handy-Works, […], volume I, London: […] Joseph Moxon, published 1678, →OCLC, § 12 (Of the Great Wheel), page 187:

           [T]he VVheel ridds VVork faſter off than the Pole can do: becauſe the ſpringing up of the Pole makes an intermiſſion in the running about of the VVork, but vvith the VVheel the VVork runs alvvays the ſame vvay; […]

   5. (chiefly US, regional, rare) Often followed by up: to put (a place, such as a room or a table) in order; to clear, to tidy.
      • 1731 (date written; published 1745), [Jonathan] Swift, “Directions to the House-maid”, in Directions to Servants […], London: […] R[obert] Dodsley, […], and M. Cooper, […], →OCLC, page 88:

        VVhen you rid up the Parlour Hearth in a Morning, throvv the laſt Night's Aſhes into a Sieve; and vvhat falls through, as you carry it dovvn, vvill ſerve inſtead of Sand for the Room and the Stairs.

      • 1891, Thomas Hardy, chapter LII, in Tess of the d’Urbervilles: A Pure Woman Faithfully Presented […], volume III, London: James R[ipley] Osgood, McIlvaine and Co., […], →OCLC, phase the sixth (The Convert), page 197:

        The four breakfasted by the thin light, and the ‘house-ridding’ was taken in hand.

        A noun use.

   6. (obsolete)
      1. To dismiss (someone) who has attended on a person; (reflexive) to remove (oneself) from a person's presence after attending to them.
         • 1530 July 28 (Gregorian calendar), Iohan Palsgraue [i.e., John Palsgrave], “The Table of Verbes”, in Lesclarcissement de la langue francoyse⸝ […], [London]: […] [Richard Pynson] fynnysshed by Iohan Haukyns, →OCLC, 3rd boke, folio cccxli, verso, column 1; reprinted Geneva: Slatkine Reprints, October 1972, →OCLC:

           We be able ynough to rydde vs of this mater without the [thee]: […]

         • 1564 February, Erasmus, “The Saiynges of Augustus Caeser”, in Nicolas Udall [i.e., Nicholas Udall], transl., Apophthegmes, that is to Saie, Prompte, Quicke, Wittie and Sentẽcious Saiynges, […], London: […] Ihon Kingston, →OCLC, book II, folio 169, verso, paragraph 21:

           [A] Judge riddeth a perſone aunſweryng before hym to the lawe at the barre.

      2. To settle (a disagreement).
         • 1707, William Forbes, “An Abstract of the Duty and Powers of Justices of Peace, our of Our Own Acts of Parliament, and the Late Commission and Proclamation”, in The Duty and Powers of Justices of Peace, in this Part of Great-Britain Called Scotland. […], Edinburgh: […] [T]he heirs and successors of Andrew Anderson printer to the Queenes most Excellent Majesty; and to be sold at John Vallanges shop, […], →OCLC, paragraph 4, page 11:

           They [constables] ought to Rid Frays, and ſeek the Neighbours to aſſiſt for ſeparating the parties; and ſuch as hurt them may be puniſhed by the Juſtices.

      3. (also reflexive) Followed by of: to deprive (oneself or someone) of something; to strip.
         • 1569 (date written), [Pedro Mexía, Mambrino Roseo], “The Fifth Historie”, in George Turberuile [i.e.. George Turberville], transl., Tragicall Tales […], London: […] Abell Ieffs, […], published 1587, →OCLC, folio 76, verso:

           [Parradio] Reſolude to ſlay the Prince, / And ridde him of his lyfe: […]

      4. (rare) To get away from or get out of (a place); to escape.
         • 1615, George Wither, “The Fourth Eglogue”, in The Shepherds Hunting: […], London: […] Thomas Snodham for George Norton, […], →OCLC, folio [F5], verso:

           But if I my Cage can rid, / I'le flye vvhere I neuer did.

2. (intransitive)
   1. (archaic)
      1. To clear land or some other place.
      2. (West Midlands) To clear or empty the stomach; also, to clear the throat.
   2. (obsolete, Northern England) Of work: to be completed.
      • 1626, Nicholas Breton, “Eight of the Clocke”, in Fantasticks: Seruing for a Perpetuall Prognostication, [Edinburgh]: [Printed for private circulation], published [1875], →OCLC, page 14:

        The Huntsman now calls in his Houndes, and at the fall of the Deere the Hornes goe apace: Now beginne the Horses to breathe, and the Labourer to sweat, and with quicke hands, worke rids apace: […]

Conjugation

Conjugation of rid

infinitive	(to) rid
	present tense	past tense
1st-person singular	rid	rid, ridded
2nd-person singular	rid, riddest†	rid, ridded, riddedst†
3rd-person singular	rids, riddeth†	rid, ridded
plural	rid
subjunctive	rid	rid, ridded
imperative	rid	—
participles	ridding	rid, ridded

^† Archaic or obsolete.

Derived terms

• be rid of
• get rid of
• red (“to remove fat from (an animal’s entrails)”) (UK, US, regional)
• riddance
• ridder (noun, verb)
• ridding (noun)
• rid out
• rid up
• unrid
• uprid (obsolete)

Translations

to free (oneself or someone, or a place) from an annoyance or hindrance

• Bulgarian: избавям (bg) (izbavjam), отървавам (bg) (otǎrvavam)
• Catalan: alliberar (ca)
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: please add this translation if you can

• Dutch: kwijt (nl)
• Finnish: päästää (fi), vapauttaa (fi)
• French: débarrasser (fr)
• German: befreien (de), vom Halse schaffen
• Hungarian: megszabadít (hu)
• Macedonian: please add this translation if you can
• Norwegian:

  Bokmål: fri (no), frigjøre (no), kvitte

  Nynorsk: kvitte

• Polish: uwalniać (pl) impf, uwolnić (pl) pf, wybawiać impf, wybawić (pl) pf
• Portuguese: libertar (pt)
• Russian: избавля́ть (ru) impf (izbavljátʹ), изба́вить (ru) pf (izbávitʹ)
• Spanish: liberar (es)
• Ukrainian: звільняти (zvilʹnjaty)

to remove (oneself or someone, or something, that is annoying, troublesome, or unwanted)

• Finnish: päästää (fi)
• French: débarrasser (fr)
• Macedonian: please add this translation if you can

to free or release, or to rescue or save, (oneself or someone, or something) — see free,‎ release,‎ rescue,‎ save

(transitive) to clear (a place or way); (intransitive) to clear land or some other place — see clear

to destroy or kill (someone) — see destroy,‎ kill

to remove obstacles or refuse from (a place) — see clean,‎ clear out

(transitive) to clear or empty (the stomach); (intransitive) to clear or empty the stomach — see empty

to eradicate (something) — see eradicate

to complete or get through (a task, or work) — see complete

to clear the throat — see clear one's throat

Adjective

rid (not comparable)

1. (archaic or obsolete) Chiefly of a place: which has been ridded (sense 1.4.1) or cleared; rid-up.
   • 1866, C[harles] Kingsley, “How They Held a Great Meeting in the Hall of Ely”, in Hereward the Wake, “Last of the English.” […], volume II, London, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: Macmillan and Co., →OCLC, page 137:

     We will make room for you! We will make a rid road from here to Winchester!

Translations

chiefly of a place: which has been ridded or cleared

• Finnish: raivattu (fi)
• Macedonian: please add this translation if you can

Noun

rid (uncountable) (chiefly Northern England, archaic or obsolete)

2. (rare) Progress which has been made; also, speed.
   • 1641 (date written), Henry Best, “For Leadinge of Hey”, in Rural Economy in Yorkshire in 1641, being the Farming and Account Books of Henry Best, […] (Publications of the Surtees Society; XXXIII), Durham, County Durham: [F]or the [Surtees] Society by George Andrews, […], published 1857, →OCLC, page 36:

     Forkers are to bee foretolde that they give upp goode forkefulls [of hay], because the winde hath not soe much force and power to blowe it away, and likewise (by this meanes) it is sooner layde, and the loader comes more ridde.

3. (mining) Loose earth, rubble, etc., on the surface of a quarry which must be removed before digging can begin; rid-work.

Translations

progress which has been made — see progress

speed — see speed

loose earth, rubble, etc., on the surface of a quarry which must be removed before digging can begin

• Finnish: sivukivi (fi)
• Macedonian: please add this translation if you can

Etymology 2

The adjective is derived from rid, the obsolete past participle form of ride.

Adjective

rid (not comparable)

1. As the second word in a compound: synonym of ridden (“full of; also, dominated, oppressed, or plagued by”).
   • 1610, Iohn [i.e., John] Mason, The Turke. A Worthie Tragedie. […], London: […] E[dward] A[llde] for Iohn Busbie […], →OCLC, Act III, scene i, signature F3, verso:

     So Cupids faire mother be thy midvvife: out and alas I am mare rid, vvhat Somners Ghoſt or limme of Lucifer, puts poore Bordello in minde of pennance before he hath treſpaſſed?

2. (postpositive, obsolete) Only in well-rid: of a horse: ridden.
   • 1605–1606 (first performance), Iohn [i.e., John] Marston, The Wonder of Women: Or The Tragedie of Sophonisba, […], London: […] Iohn Windet and are to be sold [by William Cotton] […], published 1606, →OCLC, Act V, scene i, signature F3, recto:

     [F]ull ten thouſand horſe / Freſh and vvell rid ſtrong Maſſiniſſa leades / As vvinges to Roman legions that march ſvvift / Led by that man of conqueſt, Scipio.

Verb

rid

1. (obsolete, now nonstandard) simple past and past participle of ride

Further reading

• Douglas Harper (2001–2025) “rid”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.

Anagrams

• D.R.I., DRI, Dir., IDR, dir, dir.

Danish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /riːd/, [ʁiðˀ]

Verb

rid

1. imperative of ride

Maltese

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /riːt/

Verb

rid

1. second-person singular imperative of ried

Norwegian Bokmål

Verb

rid

1. imperative of ride

Norwegian Nynorsk

Etymology 1

Verb

rid

1. present tense of ride
2. imperative of ride

Etymology 2

From Old Norse hríð.

Noun

rid f (definite singular rida or ridi, indefinite plural rider, definite plural ridene)

1. (pre-1938) alternative form of ri

Romanian

Etymology

Borrowed from French ride.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /rid/

Noun

rid n (plural riduri)

1. wrinkle, furrow, crease, line (on face)

Declension

Declension of rid

	singular			plural
	indefinite	definite		indefinite	definite
nominative-accusative	rid	ridul		riduri	ridurile
genitive-dative	rid	ridului		riduri	ridurilor
vocative	ridule			ridurilor

Further reading

• rid in DEX online—Dicționare ale limbii române (Dictionaries of the Romanian language)

Swedish

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -iːd

Verb

rid

1. imperative of rida