Ripest

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Ripe \Ripe\ (r[imac]p), a. [Compar. {Riper} (r[imac]p"[~e]r);
     superl. {Ripest}.] [AS. r[imac]pe; akin to OS. r[imac]pi, D.
     rijp, G. rief, OHG. r[imac]ft; cf. AS. r[imac]p harvest,
     r[imac]pan to reap. Cf. {Reap}.]
     1. Ready for reaping or gathering; having attained
        perfection; mature; -- said of fruits, seeds, etc.; as,


        ripe grain.
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              So mayst thou live, till, like ripe fruit, thou drop
              Into thy mother's lap.                --Milton.
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     2. Advanced to the state of fitness for use; mellow; as, ripe
        cheese; ripe wine.
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     3. Having attained its full development; mature; perfected;
        consummate. "Ripe courage." --Chaucer.
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              He was a scholar, and a ripe and good one. --Shak.
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     4. Maturated or suppurated; ready to discharge; -- said of
        sores, tumors, etc.
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     5. Ready for action or effect; prepared.
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              While things were just ripe for a war. --Addison.
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              I am not ripe to pass sentence on the gravest public
              bodies.                               --Burke.
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     6. Like ripened fruit in ruddiness and plumpness.
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              Those happy smilets,
              That played on her ripe lip.          --Shak.
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     7. Intoxicated. [Obs.] "Reeling ripe." --Shak.
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     Syn: Mature; complete; finished. See {Mature}.
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