King James Bible Dictionary

RIPE, adjective

1. Brought to perfection in growth or to the best state; mature; fit for use; as ripe fruit; ripe corn.

2. Advanced to perfection; matured; as ripe judgment, or ripe in judgment.

3. Finished; consummate; as a ripe scholar.

4. Brought to the point of taking effect; matured; ready; prepared; as things just ripe for war.

5. Fully qualified by improvement; prepared; as a student ripe for the university; a saint ripe for heaven.

6. Resembling the ripeness of fruit; as a ripe lip.

7. Complete; proper for use.

When time is ripe

8. Maturated; suppurated; as an abscess or tumor.

RIPE, verb intransitive To ripen; to grow ripe; to be matured. [Not used. See Ripen.]

RIPE, verb transitive To mature; to ripen. [Not used.]

RI'PELY, adverb Maturely; at the fit time.

RIPEN, verb intransitive ri'pn.

1. To grow ripe; to be matured; as grain or fruit. Grain ripens best in dry weather.

2. To approach or come to perfection; to be fitted or prepared; as, a project is ripening for execution.

RIPEN, verb transitive ri'pn.

1. To mature; to make ripe; as grain or fruit.

2. To mature; to fit or prepare; as, to ripen one for heaven.

3. To bring to perfection; as, to ripen the judgment.

RI'PENESS, noun

1. The state of being ripe or brought to that state of perfection which fits for use; maturity; as the ripeness of grain.

2. Full growth.

Time which made them their fame outlive, to Cowley scarce did ripeness give.

3. Perfection; completeness; as the ripeness of virtue, wisdom or judgment.

4. Fitness; qualification.

5. Complete maturation or suppuration, as of an ulcer or abscess.

6. A state of preparation; as the ripeness of a project for execution.