means Brought to full maturity or readiness, especially of fruit that has reached its sweetest, softest, most edible stage.

from From Old English 'rīpian,' to grow ripe, tied to 'rīpe' (ripe) — itself probably linked to 'rīp,' the harvest or reaping, since ripe is simply the state of being ready to be cut and gathered. A cousin of Dutch 'rijp' and German 'reif.' The '-ened' tail marks the verb made past: the slow work of becoming ready, now finished.