ripest

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Ripe \Ripe\ (r[imac]p), a. [Compar. Riper (r[imac]p"[~e]r); superl. Ripest.] [AS. r[imac]pe; akin to OS. r[imac]pi, D. rijp, G. rief, OHG. r[imac]ft; cf. AS. r[imac]p harvest, r[imac]pan 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]