Etymology

Formed on ryue (adj., adv.).

PGmc Ancestor

(1) *rīf- or *reiba-; (2) *xrīƀ-

Proposed ON Etymon (OIcel representative)

(1) rífr ‘munificent, abundant’
(ONP (1) rífr (adj.))

Other Scandinavian Reflexes

(1) Far ríviligur, Icel rífur, Norw rîv, Sw dial riv

OE Cognate

(2) ?hrīfe 'rapacious, fierce'

Phonological and morphological markers

Summary category

D1c

Attestation

This is the only instance cited in MED; OED has several other attestations from the late sixteenth century down to PDE.

Occurrences in the Gersum Corpus

WA 1887

Bibliography

MED rīfenes (n.), OED rifeness (n.), Dance ryue (adv.); (1) de Vries rífr, Mag. rífur (2), Heid. reiba-, Orel *rīfaz, AEW rīfe; (2) Heid reifa-, AEW rīf (2)