a. [ Compar. Richer superl. Richest. ] [ OE. riche, AS. rīce rich, powerful; akin to OS. rīki, D. rijk, G. reich, OHG. rīhhi, Icel. rīkr, Sw. rik, Dan. rig, Goth. reiks; from a word meaning, ruler, king, probably borrowed from Celtic, and akin to L. rex, regis, king, regere to guide, rule. √283. See Right, and cf. Derrick, Enrich, Rajah, Riches, Royal. ] 1. Having an abundance of material possessions; possessed of a large amount of property; well supplied with land, goods, or money; wealthy; opulent; affluent; -- opposed to poor. “Rich merchants.” Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

The rich [ person ] hath many friends. Prov. xiv. 20. [ 1913 Webster ]

As a thief, bent to unhoard the cash
Of some rich burgher. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence, in general, well supplied; abounding; abundant; copious; bountiful; as, a rich treasury; a rich entertainment; a rich crop. [ 1913 Webster ]

If life be short, it shall be glorious;
Each minute shall be rich in some great action. Rowe. [ 1913 Webster ]

The gorgeous East with richest hand
Showers on her kings barbaric pearl and gold. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Yielding large returns; productive or fertile; fruitful; as, rich soil or land; a rich mine. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Composed of valuable or costly materials or ingredients; procured at great outlay; highly valued; precious; sumptuous; costly; as, a rich dress; rich silk or fur; rich presents. [ 1913 Webster ]

Like to rich and various gems. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Abounding in agreeable or nutritive qualities; -- especially applied to articles of food or drink which are high-seasoned or abound in oleaginous ingredients, or are sweet, luscious, and high-flavored; as, a rich dish; rich cream or soup; rich pastry; rich wine or fruit. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sauces and rich spices are fetched from India. Baker. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Not faint or delicate; vivid; as, a rich color. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. Full of sweet and harmonius sounds; as, a rich voice; rich music. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. Abounding in beauty; gorgeous; as, a rich landscape; rich scenery. [ 1913 Webster ]

9. Abounding in humor; exciting amusement; entertaining; as, the scene was a rich one; a rich incident or character. [ Colloq. ] Thackeray. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Rich is sometimes used in the formation of self-explaining compounds; as, rich-fleeced, rich-jeweled, rich-laden, rich-stained. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Wealthy; affluent; opulent; ample; copious; abundant; plentiful; fruitful; costly; sumptuous; precious; generous; luscious. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To enrich. [ Obs. ] Gower. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. pl. [ OE. richesse, F. richesse, from riche rich, of German origin. See Rich, a. ] 1. That which makes one rich; an abundance of land, goods, money, or other property; wealth; opulence; affluence. [ 1913 Webster ]

Riches do not consist in having more gold and silver, but in having more in proportion, than our neighbors. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which appears rich, sumptuous, precious, or the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

The riche of heaven's pavement, trodden gold. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Richesse, the older form of this word, was in the singular number. The form riches, however, is plural in appearance, and has now come to be used as a plural. [ 1913 Webster ]

Against the richesses of this world shall they have misease of poverty. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

In one hour so great riches is come to nought. Rev. xviii. 17. [ 1913 Webster ]

And for that riches where is my deserving? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Wealth; opulence; affluence; wealthiness; richness; plenty; abundance. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. See Riches. ] Wealth; riches. See the Note under Riches. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Some man desireth for to have richesse. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

The richesse of all heavenly grace. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a rich manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being rich (in any sense of the adjective). [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) An herb (Pilea pumila) of the Nettle family, having a smooth, juicy, pellucid stem; -- called also clearweed. [ 1913 Webster ]