riche French · revision 17128

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1050, Vie de saint Alexis|origins=frk *rīki}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ʁiʃ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''riche''' (plural riches)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old French also ''rice'' (1050).^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frk|*rīki|t=powerful]].^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(FEW|16, 713a) The Germanic family includes [[goh|rīhhi]], [[ang|rīce]] (now [[en|rich]]), [[dum|rijcke]], [[non|ríkr]] and [[got|𐍂𐌴𐌹𐌺𐍃|tr=reiks]], Rey thinks it is an early adaptation of Celtic “rix” (Gaulish “-rix” in “Vercingetorix”), matching [[la|rēx|t=king]] (see [[roi]]).^(DHLF 1992)^(Littré 1873) Wiktionary gives [[gem-pro|*rīkijaz|t=rich, powerful]].^(Wiktionary) The TLFi connects [[it|ricco]], [[es|rico]], [[pt|rico]] and [[pro|ric]] with the Gothic word, Bloch and Wartburg think the southern languages also borrowed it, and F. Jensen derives them from a popular Latin “*rikkus”.^(TLFi)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In the ''Vie de saint Alexis'' (about 1050) ''riche hom'' is a powerful man with great possessions; it is also used as a noun.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Old and Middle French it meant powerful in political power, social rank and possessions together; in the 12th and 13th centuries it could mean “considerable” and, in war, “bold”, and, from the parable of the rich man, “haughty”.^(DHLF 1992)^(Littré 1873) The TLFi holds that the sense “wealthy” is assured only about 1265 (Brunetto Latini), while Rey dates it from the first texts.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) The ''Voyage de saint Brendan'' (about 1120) uses it of a castle showing wealth.^(TLFi) ''Riche de'' “abounding in” is in Villehardouin (about 1208) and figuratively in Montaigne (1580), and ''riche en'' from 1553.^(TLFi) ''Nouveau riche'' is already in Montesquieu's ''Lettres persanes''.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989) ''Riche comme Crésus'' is in Furetière (1690) and ''riche à millions'' in the Académie (1694).^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1050 – ''Riche hom'', ''Vie de saint Alexis''.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1120 – Showing wealth, ''Voyage de saint Brendan''.^(TLFi)

+ * 12th century – ''Richesse'', at first “power”.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+ * c. 1208 – ''Riche de'', Villehardouin.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1265 – “Wealthy”, Brunetto Latini.^(TLFi)

+ * 1466 – ''Richard''.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+ * 18th century – ''Nouveau riche'', Montesquieu.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|rich]], [[m|en|wealthy]]: ''une famille riche'', ''riche comme Crésus''.^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Rich in, abounding in: ''un aliment riche en vitamines'', ''riche d'expérience''.^(TLFi)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # Fertile; abundant, plentiful: ''une terre riche'', ''une riche moisson''.^(Wiktionary)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # Sumptuous, costly: ''une riche demeure''.^(TLFi)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # Of food, heavy, rich in fat or sugar.^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(familiar)'' ''C'est pas riche'': it's not much, it's poor.^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A rich person: ''les riches et les pauvres'', ''nouveau riche''.^(Wiktionary)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[richesse]]

+ * [[richement]]

+ * [[richard]]

+ * [[richissime]]

+ * [[enrichir]]

+ * [[enrichissement]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|rich]]

+ * [[de|reich]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}