English
richness
Richness comes from Middle English richenesse ‘Wealthiness’, from riche ‘rich’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- ‘to straighten’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₃reǵ-‘to straighten’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₃rḗǵs‘king, ruler’reconstructed
- Proto-Celticc. 1300–800 BCE*rīxs‘king’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*rīks‘king, ruler’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanic, derivedc. 500 BCE–200 CE*rīkijaz‘powerful, rich’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*rīkī‘mighty, powerful’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150rīċe‘mighty, rich’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500riche‘rich’
- Middle English, derivedc. 1150–1500richenesse‘Wealthiness’
- Englishearliest quotation 2012richness
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₃reǵ-‘to straighten’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₃rḗǵs‘king, ruler’reconstructed
- Proto-Celticc. 1300–800 BCE*rīxs‘king’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*rīks‘king, ruler’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanic, derivedc. 500 BCE–200 CE*rīkijaz‘powerful, rich’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*rīkī‘mighty, powerful’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150rīċe‘mighty, rich’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500riche‘rich’
- Middle English, derivedc. 1150–1500richenesse‘Wealthiness’
- Englishearliest quotation 2012richness
Earliest quotation: 2012, James Lambert, Beyond Hobson-Jobson: A new lexicography for Indian English: “By using the same classification system for all the…”
Equivalent to rich + -ness
Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- ‘to straighten’
…
Proto-Germanic *rīkijaz ‘kingly’
Proto-West Germanic *rīkī ‘powerful’
Old English rīċe ‘powerful’
Middle English riche ‘strong’
English rich
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- ‘to straighten’
right, director, source, region, regular, rule, direction, direct, correct, address, rank, dress, regime, arrangement, radar, realm, arrange, rack, ana, rogue, regulate, royalty, resurrection, interrogation, raj, erect, regent, rake, rector, regency, insurrection, rectify, anorexia, rectum, regalia, droit, régime, rectification, dirge, incorrigible, 96 more
through Proto-Indo-European *h₃rḗǵs ‘king, ruler’
real, royal, roy, rex, regal, rani, rajah, riel, 7 more
through Old English rīċe ‘mighty, rich’
through Middle English riche ‘rich’
Today it means
noun The state or quality of being rich; wealthiness, wealth, riches.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- / richness