Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Ripe?

\Ripe\ (r[imac]p), n. [L. ripa.] The bank of a river. [Obs.]
\Ripe\ (r[imac]p), a. [Compar. {Riper} (-[~e]r); superl. {Ripest}.] [AS. r[=i]pe; akin to OS. r[=i]pi, D. rijp, G. rief, OHG. r[=i]ft; cf. AS. r[=i]p harvest, r[=i]pan to reap. Cf. {Reap}.] 1. Ready for reaping or gathering; having attained perfection; mature; -- said of fruits, seeds, etc.; as, ripe grain. So mayst thou live, till, like ripe fruit, thou drop Into thy mother's lap. --Milton. 2. Advanced to the state of fitness for use; mellow; as, ripe cheese; ripe wine. 3. Having attained its full development; mature; perfected; consummate. ``Ripe courage.'' --Chaucer. He was a scholar, and a ripe and good one. --Shak. 4. Maturated or suppurated; ready to discharge; -- said of sores, tumors, etc. 5. Ready for action or effect; prepared. While things were just ripe for a war. --Addison. I am not ripe to pass sentence on the gravest public bodies. --Burke. 6. Like ripened fruit in ruddiness and plumpness. Those happy smilets, That played on her ripe lip. --Shak. 7. Intoxicated. [Obs.] ``Reeling ripe.'' --Shak. Syn: Mature; complete; finished. See {Mature}.
\Ripe\, v. i. [AS. r[=i]pian.] To ripen; to grow ripe. [Obs.]
\Ripe\, v. t. To mature; to ripen. [Obs.] --Shak.