[rɪd], (Verb)

Definitions:
- make someone or something free of (an unwanted person or thing)
(e.g: we now have the greatest chance ever to rid the world of nuclear weapons)


Phrases:
- be rid of
- be well rid of
- get rid of

Origin:
Middle English: from Old Norse rythja. The original sense ‘to clear’ described clearing land of trees and undergrowth; this gave rise to ‘free from rubbish or encumbrances’, later becoming generalized