Hypertext Webster Gateway: "ripest"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Ripe \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}.


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