riches
nounnounattested in dialogue
- //ɹɪt͡ʃɪz//
Money, goods, wealth, treasure.
noun
- 1
Money, goods, wealth, treasure.
Cal.[…]Sometimes a thouſand twangling Inſtruments Will hum about mine eares ; and ſometime voices, That if I then had wak'd after long ſleepe, Will make me ſleepe againe, and then in dreaming, The clouds methought would open, and ſhew riches Ready to drop vpon me, that when I wak'd I cri'de to dreame againe.
- 2
figurativeAn abundance of anything desirable.
You will enjoy the riches of this forest.
Etymology
From Middle English riches, plural of riche (“power, wealth”), from Old English rīċe (“power, authority, dominion”). Confused with Middle English richesse (“wealth”), from Old French richesse, from riche (“rich, wealthy”), of Germanic origin, from Frankish *rīki (“rich”) from Proto-Germanic *rīkijaz (“rich, powerful”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- (“to straighten, direct, make right”). Akin to Old High German rīhhi (“rich”) (German reich (“rich”)), Old English rīċe (“rich”), Old English racu (“explanation, reasoning”). More at rich.
noun
- 1
rareRich people.
Mr. Chander Lall Mookerji wrote to me thus: “The youngs and the olds, the highs and the lows, the riches and the poors, all join together in praising Your Honour’s magnanimity.”
In Antiquity has also existed social conflicts between the poor men and the riches.
[…] South America used to be a heaven for the riches and the hell for the poors and it's true.
They live in the forest, steal from the riches and help the poors.
Etymology
From rich + -es (plural suffix) by analogy with poors (“poor people”).