rope-ripe

comparative more rope-ripe · superlative most rope-ripe · alternative roperipe

1. obsoleteOf a person: deserving of being hanged.

   Sometymes our coyne, could stop a gappe, / And purchace pardon by a traine: / But gallows lucke, and ropripe happe, / At length was gwerdon for our paine.

   1579, Thomas Churchyard, “A Pirates Tragedie”, in A General Rehearsall of Warres, called Churchyard's Choise

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   As we argued already, Shakespeare's representation of the rope-ripe shrew likely was inspired by abundant accounts of the well-hanged and well-hung shrewmouse.

   2016, J. A. Shea, Paul Yachnin, “The Well-Hung Shrew”, in Lynne Bruckner, Dan Brayton, editors, Ecocritical Shakespeare, →ISBN, page 120

2. obsoleteOf an action: punishable by being hanged.

   Lord, hovv you roule in your rope-ripe termes.

   1611, George Chapman, May-Day. A Witty Comedie, […], London: […] [William Stansby] for Iohn Brown, […], →OCLC, Act II, page 29

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   Therefore the reporting of our tale, may ſone appere plain if we firſt expreſſe our minde in plaine words, and not ſeeke theſe roperipe termes, which betraie rather a foole, then commende a wiſe man[…]

   1553, Thomas Wilson, The Arte of Rhetorique, Oxford: Clarendon Press, published 1909, page 107