ripe

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   at the highest point of development especially in judgment or knowledge

   a ripe mind

2. 2
   adj

   fully developed or matured and ready to be eaten or used

   ripe peaches

3. 3
   adj

   Of a fruit, vegetable, seed, etc., ready for reaping or gathering; having attained perfection; mature.

   ripe grain

4. 4
   adj

   Of a food, advanced to the state of fitness for use; mellow.

   ripe cheese

5. 5
   adj

   Having attained its full development; mature; perfected.

   He was a scholar, and a ripe and good one.

6. 6
   adj

   Ready for action or effect; prepared.

   while things were just ripe for a war

7. 7
   adj

   Of a person, ready, willing, eager.

   I'm starting somethin' myself. I'm ripe to fight. It's this country air!

8. 8
   adj

   Like ripened fruit in ruddiness and plumpness.

   Those happy smilets, / That played on her ripe lip.

Etymology

From Middle English ripe, rype, from Old English rīpe (“ripe, mature”), from Proto-West Germanic *rīpī, from Proto-Germanic *rīpijaz, *rīpiz, from Proto-Indo-European *h₁reyb- (“to snatch”). Cognate with West Frisian ryp (“ripe”), Dutch rijp (“ripe”), German reif (“ripe”). Related to reap.