Rifer

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. More widespread, common, or prevalent throughout a place, group, or period of time than something else
2. Occurring more commonly or spreading more extensively across a particular area or community
3. Found in greater numbers or more frequently, and therefore more prevalent than a comparison

Etymology: "Rifer" is the comparative of "rife", so it means more widespread or more abundant. The surprise lies in "rife" itself. Its Old English ancestor, "rīfe", meant abundant, plentiful, or frequent, and it traces back to a Proto-Germanic word meaning "generous." Behind that lies a root meaning "to tear off" or "rip," which suggests giving freely, as if breaking off a generous portion. The connection to generosity survives in cognates across the North Sea and beyond. Dutch "rijf" and West Frisian "rju" still mean abundant or copious, while Icelandic "reifa" means to bestow, and Icelandic "rífur" carries the sense of munificent. In these languages the idea of plenty and of giving are still close together. English kept the meaning of abundance, which is why "rife" in modern use usually describes things like disease, rumour, or corruption spreading widely. "Rifer" simply extends that sense to a comparison.

Synonyms: more prevalent, widespread, common, rampant

Antonyms: scarce, rare, uncommon