English

Noun

Reich

1. A German empire or nation (chiefly before 1945); its territory or government.
   • 1762, A. F. Busching, A New System of Geography, volume 4, containing, Part of Germany, viz. Bohemia, Moravia, Lusatia, Austria, Burgundy, Westphalia, and the Circle of the Rhine, translated from German, page 4:

     The Empire is differently denominated as well by Germans themselves as by others. It is called the Reich, in Latin Regnum, by way of eminence, also the German Reich, in Latin Regnum Germanicum. The appellation of Germany, is seldom used now-a-days any where but in the title of the Emperor and Elector of Mentz.

Translations

Related terms

• First Reich
• Second Reich
• Third Reich

See also

• Holy Roman Empire
• Weimar Republic

Anagrams

• Cheri

German

Etymology

From Old High German rīhhi ‎(“power, might, empire”), from Proto-Germanic *rīkiją, itself either a substantivised *rīkijaz ‎(“rich, mighty”) (whence also German reich ‎(“rich”)), or a direct borrowing from a Celtic language; compare Middle Irish ríge ‎(“kingdom”).^[1]

Cognates include Old English rīċe ‎(“kingdom, empire”) (obsolete English riche), Dutch rijk ‎(“empire, realm”), West Frisian ryk, Danish rige ‎(“empire, realm”), Swedish rike and Icelandic ríki.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ʁaɪ̯ç]
• Rhymes: -aɪ̯ç

Noun

Reich n ‎(genitive Reichs or Reiches, plural Reiche)

1. empire or significant State
   • 1868, Wilhelm Hoffmann, Deutschland einst und jetzt im Lichte des Reiches Gottes
2. realm (also e.g. of plants)

Declension

Derived terms

Proper noun

Reich n

1. the First Reich (the Holy Roman Empire)
   • 2006, Barbara Stollberg-Rilinger, Das Heilige Römische Reich Deutscher Nation, page 81:

     Der Prager Frieden hätte den Krieg im Reich beenden können, […]

2. the Second Reich (until 1918)
3. the Third Reich (1933 to 1945)
   • 1969, Gerhard Eisenblätter, Grundlinien der Politik des Reiches gegenüber dem Generalgouvernement, 1939-1945
4. A surname​.

References

1. ↑ Orel, Vladimir (2003) A Handbook of Germanic etymology, Leiden & Boston: Brill, page 305

Portuguese

Etymology

Borrowing from German Reich ‎(“realm”).

Pronunciation

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈʁajʃ/, /ˈʁajk/

Noun

Reich m (plural Reichs)

1. Reich (territory of a German empire or nation)

Derived terms

• Primeiro Reich, Segundo Reich, Terceiro Reich

German

Adjective

reich ‎(comparative reicher, superlative am reichsten)

1. rich

   Sie ist sehr reich.‎ ― She’s very rich.

   Es ist reich an Ballaststoffen.‎ ― It’s rich in fiber.

Declension

Antonyms

• arm

Derived terms

See also

• Bereich
• reichen

Etymology 2

From reichen.

Verb

reich

1. Imperative singular of reichen.

References

1. ↑ Orel, Vladimir (2003) A Handbook of Germanic etymology, Leiden & Boston: Brill, page 305