rede

1 of 2

verb

reded; reding; redes

transitive verb

1
archaic : to give counsel to : advise
2
archaic : interpret, explain

rede

2 of 2

noun

1
archaic : counsel, advice
2
archaic : account, story

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English reden "to counsel, order, decide, guide, govern, realize, grasp the meaning of, interpret, explain, look at and understand (written symbols), say aloud (something written)" — more at read entry 1

Noun

Middle English red, rede "advice, counsel, urging, command, decision, judgment, assent, fortune, occurrence, remedy, consultation, prudence," going back to Old English rǣd, rēd "advice, counsel, resolution, wisdom, sense, benefit," going back to Germanic *rēda- (whence also Old Frisian rēd, rād "counsel, plan, decision, permission," Old Saxon rād "teaching, counsel, support, advantage, gain," Old High German rāt "counsel, advice, plan, consideration, decision," Old Icelandic ráð "advice, plan, foresight, agreement"), noun derivative from the base of *rēdan- "to advise, determine" — more at read entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rede was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near rede

Cite this Entry

“Rede.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rede. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!