An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

Having large amounts of something specified. → metal-rich environment, → rich cluster; → enrich, → enrichment, → richness, → poor.

Etymology (EN): M.E., from O.E. rice “wealthy, powerful” (cf. Du. rijk, Ger. reich “rich”),
from PIE base *reg- “move in a straight line,” hence, “to direct, rule” (cf. Mod.Pers./Mid.Pers. râst “right, straight;” O.Pers. rāsta- “straight, true,” rās- “to be right, straight, true;” Av. rāz-
“to direct, put in line, set,” razan- “order;” Skt. raj- “to direct, stretch,” rjuyant- “walking straight;” Gk. orektos “stretched out;” L. regere “to lead straight, guide, rule,” p.p. rectus “right, straight;” Ger. recht; E. right).

Etymology (PE): Por “full, much, very, too much” (Mid.Pers. purr “full;” O.Pers. paru- “much, many;” Av. parav-, pauru-, pouru-, from
par- “to fill;” PIE base *pelu- “full,” from *pel- “to be full;” cf. Skt. puru- “much, abundant;” Gk. polus “many,” plethos “great number, multitude;” O.E. full); pordâr, literally “having much possession,” from por + dâr “having, possessor,” from dâštan “to have, to possess,” → property.