rife

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rife / rīf/ • adj. (esp. of something undesirable or harmful) of common occurrence; widespread: male chauvinism was rife in medicine in those days. ∎  (rife with) full of: the streets were rife with rumor and fear.• adv. in an unchecked or widespread manner: speculation ran rife that he was an arms dealer.DERIVATIVES: rife·ness n.

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