riddance
UK /ˈɹɪd(ə)n(t)s/ · US /ˈɹɪdn̩(t)s/ noun
Forms riddances
- noun An act of ridding, clearance, or removal; elimination.
- noun Deliverance, release, setting free; a relief involving getting rid of something.
- noun The earth thrown up by a burrowing animal.
Synonyms
Etymology
Apparently an alteration of earlier Middle English riddeings, ryddyngs, reddyngs (“clearings, clearances”), plural of riddyng, riddynge, rudyng (“clearing away, removal”), partially continuing Old English hryding (“a clearing, cleared land”), by surface analysis, rid + -ance.
Webster’s 1913
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “riddance”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details