Obs. Also 4 worldesriche. [OE. woruldríce: see WORLD sb. and RICHE sb.] ‘The kingdom of the world,’ the world.
c. 897. K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., iv. 38. Þa he hine asced of ðæm worldrice.
c. 1200. Ormin, 11800. Þurrh þatt te laþe gast himm bæd All weorelldrichess ahhte.
c. 1205. Lay., 17182. Swa wid swa is weorlde-riche nis nan weorc his iliche.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 366. To seche in al this worldesriche, Men schal noght finde upon his liche. Ibid., II. 130. I hadde hir levere than a Myn Of Gold; for al this worldesriche Ne mihte make me so riche As sche.
