Where does “riches” come from?
riches (Middle English) comes from Middle English riche, from Old English rīċe, from Frankish rīki, from Proto-Germanic rīkijaz, from Proto-Germanic rīks, from Proto-Celtic rīxs, from Proto-Indo-European h₃rḗǵs, from Proto-Indo-European h₃reǵ- — to straighten, to right oneself; right; just.
Ancestry of “riches”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | riche | rich |
| 2 | Old English | rīċe | power, authority, dominion; realm, kingdom;... |
| 3 | Frankish | rīki | rich |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | rīkijaz | kingly, royal, noble; mighty, powerful; rich |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | rīks | king, ruler |
| 6 | Proto-Celtic | rīxs | king |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | h₃rḗǵs | king, ruler |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | h₃reǵ- | to straighten, to right oneself; right; just |
Words derived from “riches”