(a) To ride on horseback; also, ride on an ass, elephant, a mule; also fig.; (b) refl.; (c) ~ on (of, up, upon), to ride on (a beast); also fig.; (d) comen (gon) ~, comen riding, to come (go) riding on horseback; (e) ben to have ridden; (f) to straddle a pole or staff as if riding a horse; straddle a stool; also in proverb; (g) fig. to suffer execution by hanging.

In phrases with adverb or preposition: (a) ~ forth, to set out on horseback, continue or recommence one's riding; -- also refl.; also, come forward [quot.: c1390]; ~ fore, set out on horseback; also, depart this life [quot.: c1250]; ~ on; (b) ~ oute, to set out on horseback; ride out in search of adventure or on a military expedition; (c) ~ awei, to ride away, flee; (d) ~ after, to ride after (sb.), pursue; ~ ayen (to), ride to meet (sb.); (e) ~ in (on), to ride along (a path), ride on (one's journey); ~ in the reule of right, live a righteous life.

With various complements: (a) to ride (a distance, a period of time); (b) ~ a (gret, softe, etc.) pase, to ride at a moderate (rapid, leisurely, etc.) pace; ~ a god spede, ~ a gret walop.

(a) In contexts contrasting riding on horseback with going on foot; also in proverb; (b) ~ and (ne, or) gon, gon and (ne, or) ~; ~ and gangen, gangen or ~; ~ and (or) yeden, yeden or ~; ~ and rennen, rennen and ~; other ~ other rennen; ~ and romen, romen or ~; ~ and wenden, wenden or ~.

To ride on horseback in procession, ride in state; also, fig. be carried by a horseman [quot.: c1325]; ~ ayen(es, ride to meet or welcome (sb.).

(a) To ride as part of a military host, ride in or into battle; fight on horseback, esp. with a spear; ~ forth (to bataille), ride into combat; ~ on ground, invade (the king's) land; ridinge men, horsemen, cavalry; (b) to ride so as to lead an armed host, esp. in or into battle; -- also refl.; ~ forth, lead a host to war, advance with a military force; (c) to ride so as to ravage and plunder; also, lead a host in ravaging and plundering; (d) to ride in joust or single combat; also, ride upon knightly adventures [quot.: a1393]; (e) ~ ayen (ayenes, on, upon, til, to, toward, etc.), to ride to attack (sb., an opposing force), charge at, do battle with; ~ over, conquer (a people), subdue; ~ thurgh, charge through (an opposing force); ~ togeder, charge at one another, joust.

(a) To journey, travel; go; also, depart [quot.: c1455]; ~ oute of arrai, go astray, break religious vows; roume-riden, widely traveled; (b) fig. to reside, be present; that might ~, that could be; (c) ~ forth (hennes), to set out on a journey; depart; (d) ben riden, to have traveled, have set out on a journey.

To ride (in a chariot or cart, on a litter).

(a) To ride in a ship, sail; -- also refl.; ~ in ship (barge, bot); (b) to be aboard a ship at anchor; ~ on (bi, at an) anker.

Of a ship: (a) to sail; also, float; (b) to ride at anchor, be moored; ~ at (bi, on) anker.

(a) To move quickly; of weather: become disturbed; of wind: blow; ~ upon, of a bone: slide over (another); also, overlap (another); leten ~, let fly (a javelin); (b) ridinge knotte, knotte ridinge, a slip knot.

To copulate; ~ on (upon), have sexual intercourse with (sb.); also of animals; [last quot. may have punning reference to 7a.(a)].

(a) To ride (a horse, an ass); -- also without obj.; also in fig. context; ~ to ded, ride (a horse) to death; (b) to ride to deliver (a message).

(a) To ride along (a path, road); (b) to ride on (one's way, journey); ~ courses, make one's way on horseback; (c) to ride through (an area, a county); (d) ~ the fraunchise [see fraunchis(e n.4.(b)].

(a) To ride (a pass or course) in jousting, or as if in jousting; ~ a cours to (unto), joust with (sb.), charge in battle; (b) ~ bataille, to ride as part of a division of an army; (c) to ride through (a land, country) so as to ravage or plunder, conquer.

Misc. transitive senses: (a) of bones: to lack proper alignment so as to overlap or rest upon (each other); (b) to copulate with (a mare); (c) ~ up, ?to present (mounted men) at a muster.

In surnames.