An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Reich

by Friedrich Kluge

Reich, n., ‘empire, realm, kingdom,’ from MidHG. rîche, n., OHG. rîhhi, n., ‘country under sovereign sway, kingdom, Roman-German emperor, authority, dominion’; corresponding to Goth. reiki, n., ‘realm, dominion, power, authority,’ AS. rîče, n., ‘realm, dominion, reign,’ OSax. rîki, n., ‘realm, dominion, authority.’ A derivative with the suffix ja from Teut. *rîk-, which has been preserved only in Goth. as reiks, ‘ruler, chief’ (yet also in proper names like Friedrich and Heinrich). The rare OHG. str. vb. rîhhan, ‘to reign over, take possession of, be mighty,’ is prop. a derivative of *rîk-, ‘ruler,’ which again is a pre-Teut. loan-word from the equiv. Kelt. rîg (for another word, probably borrowed from Kelt. at the same period, see under Amt). The latter is primit. allied to Lat. rêg-em, Sans. râjan, ‘king’ (Aryan rég- would be orig. akin to Teut. rêk, râk), which are connected with the Aryan root rē̆́g, ‘to direct’ (see recht). See the following word.