Get rid of
Posted by Bruce Kahl on September 26, 2001
In Reply to: Get rid of posted by KJ on September 26, 2001
: A student of mine asked me about the roots of the phrase "to get RID of".
: Can anybody help me?
From Merriam Webster:
Main Entry: rid
Pronunciation: 'rid
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): rid also rid·ded; rid·ding
Etymology: Middle English ridden to clear, from Old Norse rythja;
akin to Old High German riutan to clear land
Date: 13th century
1 archaic : SAVE, RESCUE
2 : to make free : RELIEVE, DISENCUMBER
good riddance >>> expression of relief at getting rid of something.