rid

Meanings

Adjective

• Released from an obligation, problem, etc. (usually followed by of).

Verb

• To free (something) from a hindrance or annoyance.
• To banish.
• To kill.
• Past of ride

Origin

• Fusion of Middle English redden ("to deliver from, rid, clear") (from Old English hreddan ("to deliver, rescue, free from, take away"), from Proto-West Germanic *hraddjan, from Proto-Germanic *hradjaną ("to save, deliver")) and Middle English ridden ("to clear away, remove obstructions") (from Old English ġeryddan, from Proto-Germanic *riudijaną ("to clear"), from Proto-Indo-European *rewdʰ- ("to clear land").
• Akin to Old Frisian hredda ("to save"), Dutch redden ("to save, deliver"), German retten ("to save, deliver"), roden and reuten, Old Norse ryðja ("to clear, empty"), Old Norse hróðja ("to clear, strip"). More at redd.