“建议,劝告”,源自古英语的 ræd,意为“建议,劝告”,可以追溯到原始日耳曼语的 *redin(同源词还有古撒克逊语的 rad “建议,劝告,帮助,利益”,古弗里西亚语的 red “委员会,建议”,荷兰语的 raad “建议,劝告”,德语的 Rat “建议,劝告”,古诺尔斯语的 rað “建议,考虑,补救措施,权力;婚姻”)。这个词的词源与 read(动词)相关,最初意为“建议,劝告”。在古英语和早期中英语中,这个词非常常用,但到了17世纪后逐渐减少了文学使用,直到19世纪在一些古老和诗意的表达中有所复兴。
The verb read in the already obsolete sense ' counsel, advise,' was much affected by Spenser, and in the early modern and ME. spelling rede which he used has likewise been much affected by his archaizing imitators; but there is no historical ground for a difference in spelling. [Century Dictionary]