n. [ L. ripa. ] The bank of a river. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Compar. Riper superl. Ripest. ] [ AS. rīpe; akin to OS. rīpi, D. rijp, G. rief, OHG. rīft; cf. AS. rīp harvest, rīpan to reap. Cf. Reap. ] 1. Ready for reaping or gathering; having attained perfection; mature; -- said of fruits, seeds, etc.; as, ripe grain. [ 1913 Webster ]

So mayst thou live, till, like ripe fruit, thou drop
Into thy mother's lap. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Advanced to the state of fitness for use; mellow; as, ripe cheese; ripe wine. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Having attained its full development; mature; perfected; consummate. “Ripe courage.” Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

He was a scholar, and a ripe and good one. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Maturated or suppurated; ready to discharge; -- said of sores, tumors, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Ready for action or effect; prepared. [ 1913 Webster ]

While things were just ripe for a war. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

I am not ripe to pass sentence on the gravest public bodies. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Like ripened fruit in ruddiness and plumpness. [ 1913 Webster ]

Those happy smilets,
That played on her ripe lip. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. Intoxicated. [ Obs. ] “Reeling ripe.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Mature; complete; finished. See Mature. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ AS. rīpian. ] To ripen; to grow ripe. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To mature; to ripen. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Maturely; at the fit time. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Ripened p. pr. & vb. n. Ripening. ] 1. To grow ripe; to become mature, as grain, fruit, flowers, and the like; as, grapes ripen in the sun. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To approach or come to perfection. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To cause to mature; to make ripe; as, the warm days ripened the corn. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To mature; to fit or prepare; to bring to perfection; as, to ripen the judgment. [ 1913 Webster ]

When faith and love, which parted from thee never,
Had ripined thy iust soul to dwell with God. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. rīpness. ] The state or quality of being ripe; maturity;; completeness; perfection; as, the ripeness of grain; ripeness of manhood; ripeness of judgment. [ 1913 Webster ]

Time, which made them their fame outlive,
To Cowley scarce did ripeness give. Denham. [ 1913 Webster ]