ENGLISH
REFERENCE

rive

v.
UK //ɹˈaɪv// rive Archaic
Synonyms
Etymology 1

From Middle English riven (“to rive”), of North Germanic origin, from Old Norse rífa (“to rend, tear apart”), from Proto-Germanic rīfaną (“to tear, scratch”), from Proto-Indo-European h₁reyp- (“to crumble, tear”). Cognate with Danish rive (“to tear”), Old Frisian rīva (“to tear”), Old English ārǣfan (“to let loose, unwrap”), Old Norse ript (“breach of contract, rift”), Norwegian Bokmål rive (“to tear”), Swedish riva (”to tear”) and Albanian rrip (“belt, rope”). More at rift.

Etymology 2

Compare Latin ripa (“shore”)

© 2026 English Reference