Where does “rifeness” come from?
rifeness (English) comes from English rife, from Middle English rife, from Old English rīfe, from Proto-Germanic rībaz, from Proto-Indo-European reyp- — to tear , rip.
rifeness (English): Quality of being rife
Ancestry of “rifeness”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | rife | Widespread, common, prevalent, current;... |
| 2 | Middle English | rife | — |
| 3 | Old English | rīfe | — |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | rībaz | generous; abundant |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | reyp- | to tear , rip |