ride
UK[raɪd]US[raɪd]
v
To sit on and control the movement of an animal, especially a horse, or a vehicle such as a bicycle or motorcycle.
v
To travel in a vehicle, such as a car, bus, or train, as a passenger.
n
A journey on a horse, bicycle, motorcycle, or in a vehicle.
Etymology
The verb 'ride' originates from the Old English 'rīdan', meaning "to sit on and be carried by a horse, to move upon, to travel". This Old English term is derived from the Proto-Germanic 'rīdaną', which carried a similar sense. The Proto-Germanic root is further traced back to the Proto-Indo-European 'reydʰ-', meaning "to ride". The core semantic thread from its ancient root to its modern usage is the concept of being carried or transported, whether on an animal's back or in a vehicle. Over time, its application expanded from primarily equestrian contexts to encompass travel on bicycles, motorcycles, and within any form of conveyance.
Analysis
The word 'ride' is a simplex word of Old English origin. It cannot be meaningfully segmented into smaller, independent morphemes in modern English.
Examples
She learned to ride a horse when she was very young.
We decided to ride the bus downtown to avoid traffic.
He took me for a long ride along the coast in his new car.