A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1375-1599
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Rich(e, v. Also: rych(e, rycht; risch, rysch. [ME riche(n (a1300); Rich(e adj. Cf. Enrich v. Cf. also OF richoier, richir (late 12th c. and 1308 in Greimas).]
1. tr. To enrich (oneself or another); to make rich. a. With simple object. Also fig. 1375 Barb. xiii 753.
The king went oft … In Ingland for to rich his men c1420 Wynt. viii 5036.
Schyr Andrew … rychid and stuffid his awyne c1420 Ratis Raving 1025.
That ganis nocht a king to hald May rich a seruand many-fauld 1456 Hay II 65/17.
For the commoun prouffit riches bathe prince and peple a1500 Henr. Fab. 834.
O fulische man … To put thy saull in pane … To riche thy airproverb. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (S.T.S.) xvii 19.
Ill-won geir riches not the kin a1568 Bannatyne MS 135a/19.
Gud [M. Geir] win at the dyis Riches nocht the airfig. a1400 Legends of the Saints xli 33.
He … rychtis [L. ditat] thame with the tresoure Of hewinly joy
b. With reflex. object. 1456 Hay I 124/34.
That it war nouthir disherisoun na herischip to thame, na for to rich him self c1460 Regimine Principum 84 (Marchm.).
Princis … Quhilkis … richit thaim self and thair revalm more and more 1570 Leslie 167.
He by his hiech pollicye mervellouslie riched his realme and him selfe
c. In passive: To be made rich; to enrich oneself, to become rich. a1400 Legends of the Saints xxxii 693.
Gyf ȝe wil … richit be With mony landis & with fe c1420 Wynt. viii 4993.
Scho set thare hartis all To werray Frawnce richit to be c1420 Ib. 6485.
Mony war rychyd thare, That pour and sympill befor ware 1456 Hay I 114/14.
Thare suld nouthir knycht na gude man of were … desire to be richit [etc.] c1460 Wisdom of Solomon (S.T.S.) 267.
Quhen a seruand … is richit throw falsat of his mastir lell-wone gud 1531 Bell. Boece I 24.
Ye … ar richit with thair spulye 1531 Ib. 216.
The remanent Scottis … returnit hame, richit with the spulye of this last battall 1555 Rec. Convention of Royal Burghs I 7.
The borrowis that ar depauperit … and vtheris that ar richit 1599 Reg. Privy C. VI 21.
Commodit and richeit be confiscatioun
d. To decorate in a splendid or costly manner. 1538 Treasurer's Accounts VII 87.
Quhit claith to lay betwene the faldis of the cote of Venys sating … ryschit with silver 1538 Ib. 112.
Rischit
2. intr. To become rich. c1460 Regimine Principum 140 (Maitl.).
Thy realme sall ryche and thow sall neuer pure 1460 Hay Alex. MS 9485 (see Rich(e adj. 2 (a)). a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS No. 76.
As the cairle riches he wrecheis
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"Rich v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/riche_v>
