Where does “riche” come from?
Riche comes from Middle English riche, from Old English rice, from Proto-Germanic rīkiją, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₃reǵ-, meaning to rule or direct.
riche (English): A kingdom
Ancestry of “riche”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Old French | riche | rich |
| 2 | Frankish | rīkī | rich; mighty, powerful; kingdom, realm |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | rīkijaz | kingly, royal, noble; mighty, powerful; rich |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | rīks | king, ruler |
| 5 | Proto-Celtic | rīxs | king |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | h₃rḗǵs | king, ruler |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | h₃reǵ- | to straighten, to right oneself; right; just |