Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Riches

Riches , noun, plural

[Old English richesse, French richesse, from riche rich, of German origin. See Rich,a.]

1.
That which makes one rich; an abundance of land, goods, money, or other property; wealth; opulence; affluence.
Riches do not consist in having more gold and silver, but in having more in proportion, than our neighbors. — Locke
2.
That which appears rich, sumptuous, precious, or the like.
The riche of heaven's pavement, trodden gold. — Milton
Against the richesses of this world shall they have misease of poverty. — Chaucer
In one hour so great riches is come to nought. — Rev. xviii. 17
And for that riches where is my deserving? — Shakespeare

Richesse, the older form of this word, was in the singular number. The form riches, however, is plural in appearance, and has now come to be used as a plural.