rid Hear it!

rid1 definition

rid (rid)

transitive verb rid or ridded rid′·ded, ridding rid′·ding

  1. to free, clear, relieve, or disencumber, as of something undesirable: usually with of to rid oneself of superstitions
  2. Obsolete to save or deliver, as from danger, difficulty, etc.; rescue (from, out of, etc.)

Etymology: ME ridden, earlier ruden < ON rythja, to clear (land), akin to OE ryddan, OHG riuten < IE *reudh- < base *reu-, to tear up, dig out > rip, rug

rid Idioms

be rid of

to be freed from or relieved of (something undesirable)

get rid of

  1. to get free from or relieved of (something undesirable)
  2. to do away with; destroy; kill
rid2 definition

rid (rid)

intransitive verb, transitive verb

Archaic ride

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.