Re: 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.