Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • proper noun A female given name.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

A diminutive of Italian Margherita, and Spanish Margarita, cognates of English Margaret. An Italian Saint Rita was canonized in 1900. The English name came into regular use in early twentieth century.

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Examples

  • RITA: But now you'll call me Rita -- do you understand?

    Mother Earth, Vol. 1 No. 2, April 1906 Monthly Magazine Devoted to Social Science and Literature Various 1904

  • If this girl felt rita was molesting her why did she continue to have contact with Rita.

    NBC Bay Area - News Top Stories 2009

  • Next to her bed there was an envelope that had the name Rita lightly written across the outside.

    What Did I Do Wrong? Liz Pryor 2006

  • Next to her bed there was an envelope that had the name Rita lightly written across the outside.

    What Did I Do Wrong? Liz Pryor 2006

  • On a recent Thursday night — one of the several times a month Pinto sees visitors here — an Associated Press reporter waiting for several hours for an audience was joined by millionaire businessmen, professional soccer players, a few seemingly ordinary people, and one of Israel's most famous singers, a pop diva who goes by the name of Rita.

    In Israel, rich and famous flock to wonder rabbi 2011

  • On a recent Thursday night — one of the several times a month Pinto sees visitors here — an Associated Press reporter waiting for several hours for an audience was joined by millionaire businessmen, professional soccer players, a few seemingly ordinary people, and one of Israel's most famous singers, a pop diva who goes by the name of Rita.

    In Israel, rich and famous flock to wonder rabbi 2011

  • Hall: In spite of Deb's suspicion [of Dexter in Rita's murder], her desire for kinship with her brother is as strong.

    Dexter's Michael C. Hall: Can Anything Quench Dexter's Appetite for Vengeance? 2010

  • The two lives are reconstructed from a couple of TV documentaries about Andrea, extracts from The Arbor performed alfresco on the estate, and an outstanding team of actors (one of them George Costigan, who played Bob in Rita, Sue and Bob Too!) miming to tape-recorded testimony by family, friends and associates of the Dunbar family.

    The Arbor – review Philip French 2010

  • Rita is such a good friend of mine and I am so sad every time they depart.

    DAY 11: Drip, Drip, Drip… 2009

  • If GOP stooges can tell us that SEVEN HUNDRED THOUSAND gallons of oil and condensate spilled in the Gulf after Katrina/Rita is "not one drop" (or, at most, "nothing major") then why can't Louisiana tell the world that there was no spillage yesterday?

    Archive 2008-07-01 2008

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