Rede

Pronunciation

• IPA: /riːd/

Old English rǣd. Middle English rǣd, rað. Cognate with Danish råd, Dutch raad, German Rat, Swedish råd. Indo-European cognates include Latin ratiō ("reason, judgment, counsel").

Full definition of rede

Noun

1. (archaic) Help, advice, counsel.
• 1603, William Shakespeare, "The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark", Act 1, Scene 3:Ophelia:
  Do not, as some ungracious pastors do,
  Show me the steep and thorny way to heaven,
  Whiles, like a puffed and reckless libertine,
  Himself the primrose path of dalliance treads,
  And recks not his own rede.
• 1885, Sir Richard Burton, The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, vol. 1:When the Bull heard these words he knew the Ass to be his friend and thanked him, saying, "Right is thy rede"
• 1954, JRR Tolkien, The Two Towers:‘Yet do not cast all hope away. Tomorrow is unknown. Rede oft is found at the rising of the Sun.’
2. (archaic) Decision, a plan.

From Middle English reden, ræden, from Old English rǣdan ("to counsel, advise; plot, design; rule, gover, guide; determine, decide, decree; read, explain"). More at read.

Verb

1. (transitive, archaic or UK dialectal) To govern, protect.
2. (transitive, archaic or UK dialectal) To discuss, deliberate.
3. (transitive, archaic or UK dialectal) To advise.
• 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book IV:lo syr said his squyer, here I fynde wrytyng of yow, therfor I rede yow retorne ageyne to the Courte ....
4. (transitive, archaic or UK dialectal) To interpret (a riddle or dream); explainThe secret of Man's Being is still like the Sphinx's secret: a riddle that he cannot rede; - Resartus.

Derived terms

• berede

Anagrams

• deer
• dere, de re
• dree
• reed, Reed