rich

Where does the word "rich" come from? It comes from Gaulish rīx, passing through Proto-Germanic and Old English before entering English (1200s).

Rich’s story begins in Gaulish: rīx meant “king.” King, cognate with Latin 'rēx'; it survives in names like Vercingetorix. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Proto-Germanic as rīkijaz. Borrowed from Celtic neighbours as 'powerful'; German 'Reich', realm, is from the same loan. From there it passed into Old English as rīce by 700s-1000s. Meant powerful or mighty. It reached English by 1200s as rich. Old French 'riche', itself from Germanic, reinforced the sense 'wealthy'. Today, rich means having a great deal of money or assets.

1. Stage 1 · Gaulish · ancient rīx "king", king, cognate with Latin 'rēx'; it survives in names like Vercingetorix.
2. Stage 2 · Proto-Germanic · ancient rīkijaz "powerful", borrowed from Celtic neighbours as 'powerful'; German 'Reich', realm, is from the same loan.
3. Stage 3 · Old English · 700s-1000s rīce "powerful", meant powerful or mighty.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1200s rich "wealthy", Old French 'riche', itself from Germanic, reinforced the sense 'wealthy'.