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Added 10 October 2026

riddance

/ˈɹɪd(ə)n(t)s/ noun

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about riddance at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

An act of ridding, clearance, or removal; elimination.
Deliverance, release, setting free; a relief involving getting rid of something.
The earth thrown up by a burrowing animal.

Origin

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.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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