R R (är). (continued 2)

RAMBLE Ram"ble, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Rambled; p. pr. & vb. n. Rambling.] Etym: [For rammle, fr. Prov. E. rame to roam. Cf. Roam.]

1. To walk, ride, or sail, from place to place, without any determinate object in view; to roam carelessly or irregularly; to rove; to wander; as, to ramble about the city; to ramble over the world. He that is at liberty to ramble in perfect darkness, what is his liberty better than if driven up and down as a bubble by the wind Locke.

2. To talk or write in a discursive, aimless way.

3. To extend or grow at random. Thomson.

Syn. — To rove; roam; wander; range; stroll.

RAMBLE Ram"ble, n.

1. A going or moving from place to place without any determinate business or object; an excursion or stroll merely for recreation. Coming home, after a short Christians ramble. Swift.

2. Etym: [Cf. Rammel.] (Coal Mining)

Defn: A bed of shale over the seam. Raymond.

RAMBLER Ram"bler, n.

Defn: One who rambles; a rover; a wanderer.

RAMBLING Ram"bling, a.

Defn: Roving; wandering; discursive; as, a rambling fellow, talk, or building.

RAMBLINGLY Ram"bling*ly, adv.

Defn: In a rambling manner.

RAMBOOZE Ram"booze, n.

Defn: A beverage made of wine, ale (or milk), sugar, etc. [Obs.] Blount.

RAMBUTAN Ram*bu"tan, n. Etym: [Malay rambutan, fr. rambut hair of the head.] (Bot.)

Defn: A Malayan fruit produced by the tree Nephelium lappaceum, and closely related to the litchi nut. It is bright red, oval in shape, covered with coarse hairs (whence the name), and contains a pleasant acid pulp. Called also ramboostan.

RAMEAL Ra"me*al, a.

Defn: Same as Ramal. Gray.

RAMEAN Ra"me*an, n.

Defn: A Ramist. Shipley.

RAMED Ramed, a.

Defn: Having the frames, stem, and sternpost adjusted; — said of a ship on the stocks.

RAMEE Ram"ee, n. (Bot.)

Defn: See Ramie.

RAMEKIN Ram"e*kin, n.

Defn: See Ramequin. [Obs.]

RAMENT Ram"ent, n. Etym: [L. ramenta, pl.]

1. A scraping; a shaving. [Obs.]

RAMENTA Ra*men"ta, n. pl. Etym: [L., scrapings.] (Bot.)

Defn: Thin brownish chaffy scales upon the leaves or young shoots of some plants, especially upon the petioles and leaves of ferns. Gray.

RAMENTACEOUS Ram`en*ta"ceous, a (Bot.)

Defn: Covered with ramenta.

RAMEOUS Ra"me*ous, a Etym: [L. rameus, from ramus branch, bough.] (Bot.)

Defn: Ramal.

RAMEQUIN Ram"e*quin, n. Etym: [F.] (Cookery)

Defn: A mixture of cheese, eggs, etc., formed in a mold, or served on bread. [Written also ramekin.]

RAMIE Ram"ie, n. Etym: [From Malay.] (Bot.)

Defn: The grasscloth plant (Boehmeria nivea); also, its fiber, which is very fine and exceedingly strong; — called also China grass, and rhea. See Grass-cloth plant, under Grass.

RAMIFICATION Ram`i*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. ramification. See Ramify.]

1. The process of branching, or the development or offshoots from a stem; also, the mode of their arrangement.

2. A small branch or offshoot proceeding from a main stock or channel; as, the ramifications of an artery, vein, or nerve.

3. A division into principal and subordinate classes, heads, or departments; also, one of the subordinate parts; as, the ramifications a subject or scheme.

4. The production of branchlike figures. Crabb.

RAMIFLOROUS Ram`i*flo"rous, a. Etym: [L. ramus branch + flos, floris, flower.] (Bot.)

Defn: Flowering on the branches.

RAMIFORM Ram"i*form, a. Etym: [L. ramus branch + -form.] (Bot.)

Defn: Having the form of a branch.

RAMIFY Ram"i*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ramified; p. pr. & vb. n. Ramifying.] Etym: [F. ramifier, LL. ramificare, fr. L. ramus a branch + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See -fy.]

Defn: To divide into branches or subdivisions; as, to ramify an art, subject, scheme.

RAMIFY Ram"i*fy, v. i.

1. To shoot, or divide, into branches or subdivisions, as the stem of a plant. When they [asparagus plants] . . . begin to ramify. Arbuthnot.

2. To be divided or subdivided, as a main subject.

RAMIGEROUS Ra*mig"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. ramus a branch + -gerous.] (Bot.)

Defn: Bearing branches; branched.

RAMIPAROUS Ra*mip"a*rous, a. Etym: [L. ramus + parere to bear.] (Bot.)

Defn: Producing branches; ramigerous.

RAMIST Ra"mist, n.

Defn: A follower of Pierre Ramé, better known as Ramus, a celebrated French scholar, who was professor of rhetoric and philosophy at Paris in the reign of Henry II., and opposed the Aristotelians.

RAMLINE Ram"line, n.

Defn: A line used to get a straight middle line, as on a spar, or from stem to stern in building a vessel.

RAMMEL Ram"mel, n.

Defn: Refuse matter. [Obs.] Filled with any rubbish, rammel and broken stones. Holland.

RAMMER Ram"mer, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, rams or drives. Specifically: (a) An instrument for driving anything force; as, a rammer for driving stones or piles, or for beating the earth to more solidity. (b) A rod for forcing down the charge of a gun; a ramrod. (c) (Founding) An implement for pounding the sand of a mold to render it compact.

RAMMISH Ram"mish, a.

Defn: Like a ram; hence, rank; lascivious. "Their savor is so rammish." Chaucer.

RAMMISHNESS Ram"mish*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being rammish.

RAMMY Ram"my, a.

Defn: Like a ram; rammish. Burton.

RAMOLLESCENCE Ram`ol*les"cence, n. Etym: [F. ramollir to make soft, to soften; pref. re- re- + amollir to soften; a (L. ad) + mollir to soften, L. mollire, fr. mollis soft.]

Defn: A softening or mollifying. [R.]

RAMOON Ra*moon", n. (Bot.)

Defn: A small West Indian tree (Trophis Americana) of the Mulberry family, whose leaves and twigs are used as fodder for cattle.

RAMOSE Ra*mose", a. Etym: [L. ramosus, from ramus a branch.]

Defn: Branched, as the stem or root of a plant; having lateral divisions; consisting of, or having, branches; full of branches; ramifying; branching; branchy.

RAMOUS Ra"mous, a.

Defn: Ramose.

RAMP Ramp, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Ramped; p. pr. & vb. n. Ramping.] Etym: [F. ramper to creep, OF., to climb; of German origin; cf. G. raffen to snatch, LG. & D. rapen. See Rap to snatch, and cf. Romp.]

1. To spring; to leap; to bound; to rear; to prance; to become rampant; hence, to frolic; to romp.

2. To move by leaps, or by leaps; hence, to move swiftly or with violence. Their bridles they would champ, And trampling the fine element would fiercely ramp. Spenser.

3. To climb, as a plant; to creep up. With claspers and tendrils, they [plants] catch hold, . . . and so ramping upon trees, they mount up to a great height. Ray.

RAMP Ramp, n.

1. A leap; a spring; a hostile advance. The bold Ascalonite Fled from his lion ramp. Milton.

2. A highwayman; a robber. [Prov. Eng.]

3. A romping woman; a prostitute. [Obs.] Lyly.

4. Etym: [F. rampe.] (Arch.) (a) Any sloping member, other than a purely constructional one, such as a continuous parapet to a staircase. (b) A short bend, slope, or curve, where a hand rail or cap changes its direction.

5. Etym: [F. rampe.] (Fort.)

Defn: An inclined plane serving as a communication between different interior levels.

RAMPACIOUS Ram*pa"cious, a.

Defn: High-spirited; rampageous. [Slang] Dickens.

RAMPAGE Ramp"age, n. Etym: [See Ramp, v.]

Defn: Violent or riotous behavior; a state of excitement, passion, or debauchery; as, to be on the rampage. [Prov. or Low.] Dickens.

RAMPAGE Ramp"age, v. i.

Defn: To leap or prance about, as an animal; to be violent; to rage. [Prov. or Low]

RAMPAGEOUS Ram*pa"geous, a.

Defn: Characterized by violence and passion; unruly; rampant. [Prov. or Low] In the primitive ages of a rampageous antiquity. Galt.

RAMPALLIAN Ram*pal"lian, n. Etym: [Cf. ramp a prostitute, or rabble.]

Defn: A mean wretch. [Obs.] Shak.

RAMPANCY Ramp"an*cy, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being rampant; excessive action or development; exuberance; extravagance. "They are come to this height and rampancy of vice." South.

RAMPANT Ramp"ant, a. Etym: [F., p. pr. of ramper to creep. See Ramp, v.]

1. Ramping; leaping; springing; rearing upon the hind legs; hence, raging; furious. The fierce lion in his kind Which goeth rampant after his prey. Gower. [The] lion . . . rampant shakes his brinded mane. Milton.

2. Ascending; climbing; rank in growth; exuberant. The rampant stalk is of unusual altitude. I. Taylor.

3. (Her.)

Defn: Rising with fore paws in the air as if attacking; — said of a beast of prey, especially a lion. The right fore leg and right hind leg should be raised higher than the left. Rampant arch. (a) An arch which has one abutment higher than the other. (b) Same as Rampant vault, below. — Rampant gardant (Her.), rampant, but with the face turned to the front. — Rampant regardant, rampant, but looking backward. — Rampant vault (Arch.), a continuous wagon vault, or cradle vault, whose two abutments are located on an inclined planed plane, such as the vault supporting a stairway, or forming the ceiling of a stairway.

RAMPANTLY Ramp"ant*ly, adv.

Defn: In a rampant manner.

RAMPART Ram"part, n. Etym: [F. rempart, OF. rempar, fr. remparer to fortify, se remparer to fence or intrench one's self; re- re- pref. + pref. en- (L. in) + parer to defend, parry, prepare, L. parare to prepape. See Pare.]

1. That which fortifies and defends from assault; that which secures safety; a defense or bulwark.

2. (Fort.)

Defn: A broad embankment of earth round a place, upon which the parapet is raised. It forms the substratum of every permanent fortification. Mahan.

Syn. — Bulwark; fence; security; guard. — Rampart, Bulwark. These words were formerly interchanged; but in modern usage a distinction has sprung up between them. The rampart of a fortified place is the enceinte or main embankment or wall which surrounds it. The term bulwark is now applied to peculiarly strong outworks which project for the defense of the rampart, or main work. A single bastion is a bulwark. In using these words figuratively, rampart is properly applied to that which protects by walling out; bulwark to that which stands in the forefront of danger, to meet and repel it. Hence, we speak of a distinguished individual as the bulwark, not the rampart, of the state. This distinction, however, is often disregarded.

RAMPART Ram"part, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ramparted; p. pr. & vb. n. Ramparting.]

Defn: To surround or protect with, or as with, a rampart or ramparts. Those grassy hills, those glittering dells, Proudly ramparted with rocks. Coleridge. Rampart gun (Fort.), a cannon or large gun for use on a rampart and not as a fieldpiece.

RAMPE Rampe, n. Etym: [In allusion to its supposed aphrodisiac qualities. See Ramp.] (Bot.)

Defn: The cuckoopint.

RAMPIER Ram"pier, n.

Defn: See Rampart. [Obs.]

RAMPION Ram"pi*on, n. Etym: [Cf. F. raiponce, Sp. ruiponce, reponche, L. raperonzo, NL. rapuntium, fr. L. rapum, rapa, a turnip, rape. Cf. Rape a plant.] (Bot.)

Defn: A plant (Campanula Rapunculus) of the Bellflower family, with a tuberous esculent root; — also called ramps.

Note: The name is sometimes given to plants of the genus Phyteuma, herds of the Bellflower family, and to the American evening primrose (Enothera biennis), which has run wild in some parts of Europe.

RAMPIRE Ram"pire, n.

Defn: A rampart. [Archaic] The Trojans round the place a rampire cast. Dryden.

RAMPIRE Ram"pire, v. t.

Defn: To fortify with a rampire; to form into a rampire. [Archaic] Chapman. "Rampired walls of gold." R. Browning.

RAMPLER Ram"pler, n.

Defn: A rambler.

RAMPLER Ram"pler, a.

Defn: Roving; rambling. [Scot.]

RAMROD Ram"rod`, n.

Defn: The rod used in ramming home the charge in a muzzle-loading firearm.

RAMSHACKLE Ram"shac*kle, a. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]

Defn: Loose; disjointed; falling to pieces; out of repair. There came . . . my lord the cardinal, in his ramshackle coach. Thackeray.

RAMSHACKLE Ram"shac*kle, v. t.

Defn: To search or ransack; to rummage. [Prov. Eng.]

RAMSON Ram"son, n. Etym: [AS. hramsan, pl., akin to G. rams, Sw. rams, ramslök; cf. Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: A broad-leaved species of garlic (Allium ursinum), common in European gardens; — called also buckram.

RAMSTED Ram"sted, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A yellow-flowered weed; — so named from a Mr. Ramsted who introduced it into Pennsylvania. See Toad flax. Called also Ramsted weed.

RAMTIL Ram"til, n. [Bengali ram-til.]

Defn: A tropical African asteraceous shrub (Guizotia abyssinica) cultivated for its seeds (called ramtil, or niger, seeds) which yield a valuable oil used for food and as an illuminant.

RAMULOSE Ram"u*lose`, a. Etym: [L. ramulosus, fr. ramulus, dim. of ramus a branch.] (Nat. Hist.)

Defn: Having many small branches, or ramuli.

RAMULOUS Ram"u*lous, a. (Nat. Hist.)

Defn: Ramulose.

RAMULUS Ram"u*lus, n.; pl. Ramuli (. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small branch, or branchlet, of corals, hydroids, and similar organisms.

RAMUS Ra"mus, n.; pl. Rami (. (Nat. Hist.)

Defn: A branch; a projecting part or prominent process; a ramification.

RAMUSCULE Ra*mus"cule, n. Etym: [L. ramusculus.] (Nat. Hist.)

Defn: A small ramus, or branch.

RAN Ran,

Defn: imp. of Run.

RAN Ran, n. Etym: [As. ran.]

Defn: Open robbery. [Obs.] Lambarde.

RAN Ran, n. (Naut.)

Defn: Yarns coiled on a spun-yarn winch.

RANA Ra"na, n. Etym: [L., a frog.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of anurous batrachians, including the common frogs.

RANAL Ra"nal, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Having a general affinity to ranunculaceous plants. Ranal alliance (Bot.), a name proposed by Lindley for a group of natural orders, including Ranunculaceæ, Magnoliaceæ, Papaveraceæ, and others related to them.

RANCE Rance, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]

1. A prop or shore. [Scot.]

2. A round between the legs of a chair.

RANCESCENT Ran*ces"cent, a. Etym: [L. rancescens, p. pr. of rancescere, v. incho. from rancere to be rancid.]

Defn: Becoming rancid or sour.

RANCH Ranch, v. t. [Written also raunch.] Etym: [Cf. Wrench.]

Defn: To wrench; to tear; to sprain; to injure by violent straining or contortion. [R.] Dryden. "Hasting to raunch the arrow out." Spenser.

RANCH Ranch, n. Etym: [See Rancho.]

Defn: A tract of land used for grazing and rearing of horses, cattle, or sheep. See Rancho, 2. [Western U. S.]

RANCHERIA Ran`che*ri"a, n. [Sp. rancheria.]

1. A dwelling place of a ranchero.

2. A small settlement or collection of ranchos, or rude huts, esp. for Indians. [Sp. Amer. & Southern U. S.]

3. Formerly, in the Philippines, a political division of the pagan tribes.

RANCHERO Ran*che"ro, n.; pl. Rancheros. Etym: [Sp.] [Mexico & Western U. S.]

1. A herdsman; a peasant employed on a ranch or rancho.

2. The owner and occupant of a ranch or rancho.

RANCHMAN Ranch"man, n.; pl. Ranchmen

Defn: An owner or occupant of, or laborer on, a ranch; a herdsman. [Western U. S.]

RANCHO Ran"cho, n.; pl. Ranchos. Etym: [Sp., properly, a mess, mess room. Cf. 2d Ranch.]

1. A rude hut, as of posts, covered with branches or thatch, where herdsmen or farm laborers may live or lodge at night.

2. A large grazing farm where horses and cattle are raised; — distinguished from hacienda, a cultivated farm or plantation. [Mexico & California] Bartlett.

RANCID Ran"cid, a. Etym: [L. rancidus, fr. rancere to be rancid or rank.]

Defn: Having a rank smell or taste, from chemical change or decomposition; musty; as, rancid oil or butter.

RANCIDITY Ran*cid"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. rancidité.]

Defn: The quality or state of being rancid; a rancid scent or flavor, as of old oil. Ure.

RANCIDLY Ran"cid*ly, adv.

Defn: In a rancid manner.

RANCIDNESS Ran"cid*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being rancid.

RANCOR Ran"cor, n. [Written also rancour.] Etym: [OE. rancour, OF. rancor, rancur, F. rancune, fr. L. rancor rancidity, rankness; tropically, an old grudge, rancor, fr. rancere to be rank or rancid.]

Defn: The deepest malignity or spite; deep-seated enmity or malice; inveterate hatred. "To stint rancour and dissencioun." Chaucer. It would not be easy to conceive the passion, rancor, and malice of their tongues and hearts. Burke.

Syn. — Enmity; hatred; ill will; malice; spite; grudge; animosity; malignity. — Rancor, Enmity. Enmity and rancor both describe hostile feelings; but enmity may be generous and open, while rancor implies personal malice of the worst and most enduring nature, and is the strongest word in our language to express hostile feelings. Rancor will out; proud prelate, in thy face I see thy fury. Shak. Rancor is that degree of malice which preys upon the possessor. Cogan.

RANCOROUS Ran"cor*ous, a. Etym: [OF. rancuros.]

Defn: Full of rancor; evincing, or caused by, rancor; deeply malignant; implacably spiteful or malicious; intensely virulent. So flamed his eyes with rage and rancorous ire. Spenser.

RANCOROUSLY Ran"cor*ous*ly, adv.

Defn: In a rancorous manner.

RAND Rand, n. Etym: [AS. rand, rond; akin to D., Dan., Sw., & G. rand, Icel. rönd, and probably to E. rind.]

1. A border; edge; margin. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

2. A long, fleshy piece, as of beef, cut from the flank or leg; a sort of steak. Beau. & Fl.

3. A thin inner sole for a shoe; also, a leveling slip of leather applied to the sole before attaching the heel.

RAND Rand, v. i. Etym: [See Rant.]

Defn: To rant; to storm. [Obs.] I wept, . . . and raved, randed, and railed. J. Webster.

RANDALL GRASS Ran"dall grass`. (Bot.)

Defn: The meadow fescue (Festuca elatior). See under Grass.

RANDAN Ran"dan, n.

Defn: The product of a second sifting of meal; the finest part of the bran. [Prov. Eng.]

RANDAN Ran"dan, n.

Defn: A boat propelled by three rowers with four oars, the middle rower pulling two.

RANDING Rand"ing, n.

1. (Shoemaking)

Defn: The act or process of making and applying rands for shoes.

2. (Mil.)

Defn: A kind of basket work used in gabions.

RANDOM Ran"dom, n. Etym: [OE. randon, OF. randon force, violence, rapidity, a randon, de randon, violently, suddenly, rapidly, prob. of German origin; cf. G. rand edge, border, OHG. rant shield, edge of a shield, akin to E. rand, n. See Rand, n.]

1. Force; violence. [Obs.] For courageously the two kings newly fought with great random and force. E. Hall.

2. A roving motion; course without definite direction; want of direction, rule, or method; hazard; chance; — commonly used in the phrase at random, that is, without a settled point of direction; at hazard. Counsels, when they fly At random, sometimes hit most happily. Herrick. O, many a shaft, at random sent, Finds mark the archer little meant ! Sir W. Scott.

3. Distance to which a missile is cast; range; reach; as, the random of a rifle ball. Sir K. Digby.

4. (Mining)

Defn: The direction of a rake-vein. Raymond.

RANDOM Ran"dom, a.

Defn: Going at random or by chance; done or made at hazard, or without settled direction, aim, or purpose; hazarded without previous calculation; left to chance; haphazard; as, a random guess. Some random truths he can impart. Wordsworth. So sharp a spur to the lazy, and so strong a bridle to the random. H. Spencer. Random courses (Masonry), courses of unequal thickness. — Random shot, a shot not directed or aimed toward any particular object, or a shot with the muzzle of the gun much elevated. — Random work (Masonry), stonework consisting of stones of unequal sizes fitted together, but not in courses nor always with flat beds.

RANDOMLY Ran"dom*ly, adv.

Defn: In a random manner.

RANDON Ran"don, n.

Defn: Random. [Obs.] Spenser.

RANDON Ran"don, v. i.

Defn: To go or stray at random. [Obs.]

RANEDEER Rane"deer`, n.

Defn: See Reindeer. [Obs.]

RANEE Ra"nee, n.

Defn: Same as Rani.

RANFORCE Ran"force`, n. Etym: [Cf. F. renforcer.]

Defn: See Reënforce. [Obs.] Bailey.

RANG Rang,

Defn: imp. of Ring, v. t. & i.

RANGE Range, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ranged; p. pr. & vb. n. Ranging.] Etym: [OE. rengen, OF. rengier, F. ranger, OF. renc row, rank, F. rang; of German origin. See Rane, n.]

1. To set in a row, or in rows; to place in a regular line or lines, or in ranks; to dispose in the proper order; to rank; as, to range soldiers in line. Maccabeus ranged his army by hands. 2 Macc. xii. 20.

2. To place (as a single individual) among others in a line, row, or order, as in the ranks of an army; — usually, reflexively and figuratively, (in the sense) to espouse a cause, to join a party, etc. It would be absurd in me to range myself on the side of the Duke of Bedford and the corresponding society. Burke.

3. To separate into parts; to sift. [Obs.] Holland.

4. To dispose in a classified or in systematic order; to arrange regularly; as, to range plants and animals in genera and species.

5. To rove over or through; as, to range the fields. Teach him to range the ditch, and force the brake. Gay.

6. To sail or pass in a direction parallel to or near; as, to range the coast.

Note: Compare the last two senses (5 and 6) with the French ranger une côte.

7. (Biol.)

Defn: To be native to, or to live in; to frequent.

RANGE Range, v. i.

1. To rove at large; to wander without restraint or direction; to roam. Like a ranging spaniel that barks at every bird he sees. Burton.

2. To have range; to change or differ within limits; to be capable of projecting, or to admit of being projected, especially as to horizontal distance; as, the temperature ranged through seventy degrees Fahrenheit; the gun ranges three miles; the shot ranged four miles.

3. To be placed in order; to be ranked; to admit of arrangement or classification; to rank. And range with humble livers in content. Shak.

4. To have a certain direction; to correspond in direction; to be or keep in a corresponding line; to trend or run; — often followed by with; as, the front of a house ranges with the street; to range along the coast. Which way the forests range. Dryden.

5. (Biol.)

Defn: To be native to, or live in, a certain district or region; as, the peba ranges from Texas to Paraguay.

Syn. — To rove; roam; ramble; wander; stroll.

RANGE Range, n. Etym: [From Range, v.: cf. F. rangée.]

1. A series of things in a line; a row; a rank; as, a range of buildings; a range of mountains.

2. An aggregate of individuals in one rank or degree; an order; a class. The next range of beings above him are the immaterial intelligences. Sir M. Hale.

3. The step of a ladder; a rung. Clarendon.

4. A kitchen grate. [Obs.] He was bid at his first coming to take off the range, and let down the cinders. L'Estrange.

5. Am extended cooking apparatus of cast iron, set in brickwork, and affording conveniences for various ways

6. A bolting sieve to sift meal. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

7. A wandering or roving; a going to and fro; an excursion; a ramble; an expedition. He may take a range all the world over. South.

8. That which may be ranged over; place or room for excursion; especially, a region of country in which cattle or sheep may wander and pasture.

9. Extent or space taken in by anything excursive; compass or extent of excursion; reach; scope; discursive; as, the range of one's voice, or authority. Far as creation's ample range extends. Pope. The range and compass of Hammond's knowledge filled the whole circle of the arts. Bp. Fell. A man has not enough range of thought. Addison.

10. (Biol.)

Defn: The region within which a plant or animal naturally lives.

11. (Gun.) (a) The horizontal distance to which a shot or other projectile is carried. (b) Sometimes, less properly, the trajectory of a shot or projectile. (c) A place where shooting, as with cannons or rifles, is practiced.

12. In the public land system of the United States, a row or line of townships lying between two succession meridian lines six miles apart.

Note: The meridians included in each great survey are numbered in order east and west from the "principal meridian" of that survey, and the townships in the range are numbered north and south from the "base line," which runs east and west; as, township No. 6, N., range 7, W., from the fifth principal meridian.

13. (Naut.)

Defn: See Range of cable, below. Range of accommodation (Optics), the distance between the near point and the far point of distinct vision, — usually measured and designated by the strength of the lens which if added to the refracting media of the eye would cause the rays from the near point to appear as if they came from the far point. — Range finder (Gunnery), an instrument, or apparatus, variously constructed, for ascertaining the distance of an inaccessible object, — used to determine what elevation must be given to a gun in order to hit the object; a position finder. — Range of cable (Naut.), a certain length of slack cable ranged along the deck preparatory to letting go the anchor. — Range work (Masonry), masonry of squared stones laid in courses each of which is of even height throughout the length of the wall; — distinguished from broken range work, which consists of squared stones laid in courses not continuously of even height. — To get the range of (an object) (Gun.), to find the angle at which the piece must be raised to reach (the object) without carrying beyond.

RANGEMENT Range"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. rangement.]

Defn: Arrangement. [Obs.] Waterland.

RANGER Ran"ger, n.

1. One who ranges; a rover; sometimes, one who ranges for plunder; a roving robber.

2. That which separates or arranges; specifically, a sieve. [Obs.] "The tamis ranger." Holland.

3. A dog that beats the ground in search of game.

4. One of a body of mounted troops, formerly armed with short muskets, who range over the country, and often fight on foot.

5. The keeper of a public park or forest; formerly, a sworn officer of a forest, appointed by the king's letters patent, whose business was to walk through the forest, recover beasts that had strayed beyond its limits, watch the deer, present trespasses to the next court held for the forest, etc. [Eng.]

RANGERSHIP Ran"ger*ship, n.

Defn: The office of the keeper of a forest or park. [Eng.]

RANGLE Ran"gle, v. i.

Defn: To range about in an irregular manner. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

RANGY Ran"gy, a. [From Range, v. i.]

Defn: Inclined or able to range, or rove about, for considerable distances; apt or suited for much roving, —chiefly used of cattle.

RANI Ra"ni, n. Etym: [Hind. rani, Skr. rajni. See Rajah.]

Defn: A queen or princess; the wife of a rajah. [Written also ranee.] [India]

RANINE Ra"nine, a. Etym: [L. rana a frog.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the frogs and toads.

2. (Anat.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, a swelling under the tongue; also, pertaining to the region where the swelling occurs; — applied especially to branches of the lingual artery and lingual vein.

RANK Rank, a. [Compar. Ranker; superl. Rankest.] Etym: [AS. ranc strong, proud; cf. D. rank slender, Dan. rank upright, erect, Prov. G. rank slender, Icel. rakkr slender, bold. The meaning seems to have been influenced by L. rancidus, E. rancid.]

1. Luxuriant in growth; of vigorous growth; exuberant; grown to immoderate height; as, rank grass; rank weeds. And, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good. Gen. xli. 5.

2. Raised to a high degree; violent; extreme; gross; utter; as, rank heresy. "Rank nonsense." Hare. "I do forgive thy rankest fault." Shak.

3. Causing vigorous growth; producing luxuriantly; very rich and fertile; as, rank land. Mortimer.

4. Strong-scented; rancid; musty; as, oil of a rank smell; rank- smelling rue. Spenser.

5. Strong to the taste. "Divers sea fowls taste rank of the fish on which they feed." Boyle.

6. Inflamed with venereal appetite. [Obs.] Shak. Rank modus (Law), an excessive and unreasonable modus. See Modus, 3. — To set (the iron of a plane, etc.) rank, to set so as to take off a thick shaving. Moxon.

RANK Rank, adv.

Defn: Rankly; stoutly; violently. [Obs.] That rides so rank and bends his lance so fell. Fairfax.

RANK Rank, n. Etym: [OE. renk, reng, OF. renc, F. rang, fr. OHG. hring a circle, a circular row, G. ring. See Ring, and cf. Range, n. & v.]

1. A row or line; a range; an order; a tier; as, a rank of osiers. Many a mountain nigh Rising in lofty ranks, and loftier still. Byron.

2. (Mil.)

Defn: A line of soldiers ranged side by side; — opposed to file. See 1st File, 1 (a). Fierce, fiery warriors fought upon the clouds, In ranks and squadrons and right form of war. Shak.

3. Grade of official standing, as in the army, navy, or nobility; as, the rank of general; the rank of admiral.

4. An aggregate of individuals classed together; a permanent social class; an order; a division; as, ranks and orders of men; the highest and the lowest ranks of men, or of other intelligent beings.

5. Degree of dignity, eminence, or excellence; position in civil or social life; station; degree; grade; as, a writer of the first rank; a lawyer of high rank. These all are virtues of a meaner rank. Addison.

6. Elevated grade or standing; high degree; high social position; distinction; eminence; as, a man of rank. Rank and file. (a) (Mil.) The whole body of common soldiers, including also corporals. In a more extended sense, it includes sergeants also, excepting the noncommissioned staff. (b) See under 1st File. — The ranks, the order or grade of common soldiers; as, to reduce a noncommissioned officer to the ranks. — To fill the ranks, to supply the whole number, or a competent number. — To take rank of, to have precedence over, or to have the right of taking a higher place than.pull rank, to insist on one's own prerogative or plan of action, by right of a higher rank than that of one suggesting a different plan

RANK Rank, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ranked; p. pr. & vb. n. Ranking,]

1. To place abreast, or in a line.

2. To range in a particular class, order, or division; to class; also, to dispose methodically; to place in suitable classes or order; to classify. Ranking all things under general and special heads. I. Watts. Poets were ranked in the class of philosophers. Broome. Heresy is ranked with idolatry and witchcraft. Dr. H. More.

3. To take rank of; to outrank. [U.S.]

RANK Rank, v. i.

1. To be ranged; to be set or disposed, an in a particular degree, class, order, or division. Let that one article rank with the rest. Shak.

2. To have a certain grade or degree of elevation in the orders of civil or military life; to have a certain degree of esteem or consideration; as, he ranks with the first class of poets; he ranks high in public estimation.

RANKER Rank"er, n.

Defn: One who ranks, or disposes in ranks; one who arranges.

RANKLE Ran"kle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Rankled; p. pr. & vb. n. Rankling.] Etym: [From Rank, a.]

1. To become, or be, rank; to grow rank or strong; to be inflamed; to fester; — used literally and figuratively. A malady that burns and rankles inward. Rowe. This would have left a rankling wound in the hearts of the people. Burke.

2. To produce a festering or inflamed effect; to cause a sore; — used literally and figuratively; as, a splinter rankles in the flesh; the words rankled in his bosom.

RANKLE Ran"kle, v. t.

Defn: To cause to fester; to make sore; to inflame. [R.] Beau. & Fl.

RANKLY Rank"ly, adv.

Defn: With rank or vigorous growth; luxuriantly; hence, coarsely; grossly; as, weeds grow rankly.

RANKNESS Rank"ness, n. Etym: [AS. rancness pride.]

Defn: The condition or quality of being rank.

RANNEL Ran"nel, n.

Defn: A prostitute. [Obs.]

RANNY Ran"ny, n. Etym: [L. araneus mus, a kind of small mouse.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The erd shrew. [Scot.]

RANSACK Ran"sack, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ransacked; p. pr. & vb. n. Ransacking.] Etym: [OE. ransaken, Icel, rannsaka to explore, examine; rann a house (akin to Goth. razn house, AS. ræsn plank, beam) + the root of sækja to seek, akin to E. seek. See Seek, and cf. Rest repose.]

1. To search thoroughly; to search every place or part of; as, to ransack a house. To ransack every corner of their . . . hearts. South.

2. To plunder; to pillage completely. Their vow is made To ransack Troy. Shak.

3. To violate; to ravish; to defiour. [Obs.] Rich spoil of ransacked chastity. Spenser.

RANSACK Ran"sack, v. i.

Defn: To make a thorough search. To ransack in the tas [heap] of bodies dead. Chaucer.

RANSACK Ran"sack, n.

Defn: The act of ransacking, or state of being ransacked; pillage. [R.] Even your father's house Shall not be free fromransack. J. Webster.

RANSOM Ran"som, n. Etym: [OE. raunson, raunsoun, OF. rançon, raençon, raançon, F. rançon, fr. L. redemptio, fr. redimere to redeem. See Redeem, and cf. Redemption.]

1. The release of a captive, or of captive, or of captured property, by payment of a consideration; redemption; as, prisoners hopeless of ransom. Dryden.

2. The money or price paid for the redemption of a prisoner, or for goods captured by an enemy; payment for freedom from restraint, penalty, or forfeit. Thy ransom paid, which man from death redeems. Milton. His captivity in Austria, and the heavy ransom he paid for his liberty. Sir J. Davies/.

3. (O. Eng. Law)

Defn: A sum paid for the pardon of some great offense and the discharge of the offender; also, a fine paid in lieu of corporal punishment. Blackstone. Ransom bill (Law), a war contract, valid by the law of nations, for the ransom of property captured at sea and its safe conduct into port. Kent.

RANSOM Ran"som, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ransomed; p. pr. & vb. n. Ransoming.] Etym: [Cf. F. rançonner. See Ransom, n.]

1. To redeem from captivity, servitude, punishment, or forfeit, by paying a price; to buy out of servitude or penalty; to rescue; to deliver; as, to ransom prisoners from an enemy.

2. To exact a ransom for, or a payment on. [R.] Such lands as he had rule of he ransomed them so grievously, and would tax the men two or three times in a year. Berners.

RANSOMABLE Ran"som*a*ble, a.

Defn: Such as can be ransomed.

RANSOMER Ran"som*er, n.

Defn: One who ransoms or redeems.

RANSOMLESS Ran"som*less, a.

Defn: Incapable of being ransomed; without ransom. Shak.

RANT Rant, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Ranted; p. pr. & vb. n. Ranting.] Etym: [OD. ranten, randen, to dote, to be enraged.]

Defn: To rave in violent, high-sounding, or extravagant language, without dignity of thought; to be noisy, boisterous, and bombastic in talk or declamation; as, a ranting preacher. Look where my ranting host of the Garter comes! Shak.

RANT Rant, n.

Defn: High-sounding language, without importance or dignity of thought; boisterous, empty declamation; bombast; as, the rant of fanatics. This is a stoical rant, without any foundation in the nature of man or reason of things. Atterbury.

RANTER Rant"er, n.

1. A noisy talker; a raving declaimer.

2. (Eccl. Hist.) (a) One of a religious sect which sprung up in 1645; — called also Seekers. See Seeker. (b) One of the Primitive Methodists, who seceded from the Wesleyan Methodists on the ground of their deficiency in fervor and zeal; — so called in contempt.

RANTERISM Rant"er*ism, n. (Eccl. Hist.)

Defn: The practice or tenets of the Ranters.

RANTINGLY Rant"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a ranting manner.

RANTIPOLE Rant"i*pole, n. Etym: [Ranty + pole, poll, head.]

Defn: A wild, romping young person. [Low] Marrya

RANTIPOLE Rant"i*pole, a.

Defn: Wild; roving; rakish. [Low]

RANTIPOLE Rant"i*pole, v. i.

Defn: To act like a rantipole. [Low] She used to rantipole about the house. Arbuthnot.

RANTISM Rant"ism, n. (Eccl. Hist.)

Defn: Ranterism.

RANTY Rant"y, a.

Defn: Wild; noisy; boisterous.

RANULA Ran"u*la, n. Etym: [L., a little frog, a little swelling on the tongue of cattle, dim. of rana a frog.] (Med.)

Defn: A cyst formed under the tongue by obstruction of the duct of the submaxillary gland.

RANUNCULACEOUS Ra*nun`cu*la"ceous, a. Etym: [See Ranunculus.] (Bot.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to a natural order of plants (Ranunculaceæ), of which the buttercup is the type, and which includes also the virgin's bower, the monkshood, larkspur, anemone, meadow rue, and peony.

RANUNCULUS Ra*nun`cu*lus, n.; pl. E. Ranunculuses, L. Ranunculi. Etym: [L., a little frog, a medicinal plant, perhaps crowfoot, dim. of rana a frog; cf. raccare to roar.] (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of herbs, mostly with yellow flowers, including crowfoot, buttercups, and the cultivated ranunculi (R. Asiaticus, R. aconitifolius, etc.) in which the flowers are double and of various colors.

RANZ DES VACHES Ranz" des` vaches". Etym: [F., the ranks or rows of cows, the name being given from the fact that the cattle, when answering the musical call of their keeper, move towards him in a row, preceded by those wearing bells.]

Defn: The name for numerous simple, but very irregular, melodies of the Swiss mountaineers, blown on a long tube called the Alpine horn, and sometimes sung.

RAP Rap, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]

Defn: A lay or skein containing 120 yards of yarn. Knight.

RAP Rap, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Rapped; p. pr. & vb. n. Rapping.] Etym: [Akin to Sw. rappa to strike, rapp stroke, Dan. rap, perhaps of imitative origin.]

Defn: To strike with a quick, sharp blow; to knock; as, to rap on the door.

RAP Rap, v. t.

1. To strike with a quick blow; to knock on. With one great peal they rap the door. Prior.

2. (Founding)

Defn: To free (a pattern) in a mold by light blows on the pattern, so as to facilitate its removal.

RAP Rap, n.

Defn: A quick, smart blow; a knock.

RAP Rap, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rapped, usually written Rapt; p. pr. & vb. n. Rapping.] Etym: [OE. rapen; akin to LG. & D. rapen to snatch, G. raffen, Sw. rappa; cf. Dan. rappe sig to make haste, and Icel. hrapa to fall, to rush, hurry. The word has been confused with L. rapere to seize. Cf. Rape robbery, Rapture, Raff, v., Ramp, v.]

1. To snatch away; to seize and hurry off. And through the Greeks and Ilians they rapt The whirring chariot. Chapman. From Oxford I was rapt by my nephew, Sir Edmund Bacon, to Redgrove. Sir H. Wotton.

2. To hasten. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.

3. To seize and bear away, as the mind or thoughts; to transport out of one's self; to affect with ecstasy or rapture; as, rapt into admiration. I'm rapt with joy to see my Marcia's tears. Addison. Rapt into future times, the bard begun. Pope.

4. To exchange; to truck. [Obs. & Law] To rap and ren, To rap and rend. Etym: [Perhaps fr. Icel. hrapa to hurry and ræna plunder, fr. ran plunder, E. ran.] To seize and plunder; to snatch by violence. Dryden. "[Ye] waste all that ye may rape and renne." Chaucer. All they could rap and rend pilfer. Hudibras. — To rap out, to utter with sudden violence, as an oath. A judge who rapped out a great oath. Addison.

RAP Rap, n. Etym: [Perhaps contr. fr. raparee.]

Defn: A popular name for any of the tokens that passed current for a half-penny in Ireland in the early part of the eighteenth century; any coin of trifling value. Many counterfeits passed about under the name of raps. Swift. Tie it [her money] up so tight that you can't touch a rap, save with her consent. Mrs. Alexander. Not to care a rap, to care nothing. — Not worth a rap, worth nothing.

RAPACES Ra*pa"ces, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Rapacious.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Accipitres.

RAPACIOUS Rapa"cious, a. Etym: [L. rapax, -acis, from rapere to seize and carry off, to snatch away. See Rapid.]

1. Given to plunder; disposed or accustomed to seize by violence; seizing by force. " The downfall of the rapacious and licentious Knights Templar." Motley.

2. Accustomed to seize food; subsisting on prey, or animals seized by violence,; as, a tiger is a rapacious animal; a rapacious bird.

3. Avaricious; grasping; extortionate; also, greedy; ravenous; voracious; as, rapacious usurers; a rapacious appetite. [Thy Lord] redeem thee from Death's rapacious claim Milton .

Syn. — Greedy; grasping; ravenous; voracious. — Ra*pa"cious*ly, adv. — Ra*pa"cious*ness, n.

RAPACITY Ra*pac"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. rapacitas: cf. F. rapacite. See Rapacious.]

1. The quality of being rapacious; rapaciousness; ravenousness; as, the rapacity of pirates; the rapacity of wolves.

2. The act or practice of extorting or exacting by oppressive injustice; exorbitant greediness of gain. "The rapacity of some ages." Sprat.

RAPAREE Rap`a*ree", n.

Defn: See Rapparee.

RAPE Rape (rap), n. Etym: [F. râpe a grape stalk.]

1. Fruit, as grapes, plucked from the cluster. Ray.

2. The refuse stems and skins of grapes or raisins from which the must has been expressed in wine making.

3. A filter containing the above refuse, used in clarifying and perfecting malt, vinegar, etc. Rape wine, a poor, thin wine made from the last dregs of pressed grapes.

RAPE Rape, n. Etym: [Akin to rap to snatch, but confused with L. rapere. See Rap to snatch.]

1. The act of seizing and carrying away by force; violent seizure; robbery. And ruined orphans of thy rapes complain. Sandys.

2. (Law)

Defn: Sexual connection with a woman without her consent. See Age of consent, under Consent, n. statutory rape.

3. That which is snatched away. [Obs.] Where now are all my hopes O, never more. Shall they revive! nor death her rapes restore. Sandys.

4. Movement, as in snatching; haste; hurry. [Obs.] rape of the land by mining companies.

RAPE Rape, v. t.

Defn: To commit rape upon; to ravish. raped first by their assailant, and then by the Justice system. Corresponds to 2nd rape, n. 5. To rape and ren. See under Rap, v. t., to snatch.

RAPE Rape, v. i.

Defn: To rob; to pillage. [Obs.] Heywood.

RAPE Rape, n. Etym: [Icel. hreppr village, district; cf. Icel. hreppa to catch, obtain, AS. hrepian, hreppan, to touch.]

Defn: One of six divisions of the county of Sussex, England, intermediate between a hundred and a shire.

RAPE Rape, n. Etym: [L. rapa, rapum, akin to Gr. rübe.] (Bot.)

Defn: A name given to a variety or to varieties of a plant of the turnip kind, grown for seeds and herbage. The seeds are used for the production of rape oil, and to a limited extent for the food of cage birds.

Note: These plants, with the edible turnip, have been variously named, but are all now believed to be derived from the Brassica campestris of Europe, which by some is not considered distinct from the wild stock (B. oleracea) of the cabbage. See Cole. Broom rape. (Bot.) See Broom rape, in the Vocabulary. — Rape cake, the refuse remaining after the oil has been expressed from the seed. — Rape root. Same as Rape. — Summer rape. (Bot.) See Colza.

RAPEFUL Rape"ful, a.

1. Violent. [Obs.]

2. Given to the commission of rape. Byron.

RAPFULLY Rap"ful*ly, adv.

Defn: Violently. [Obs.]

RAPHAELESQUE Raph`a*el*esque", a.

Defn: Like Raphael's works; in Raphael's manner of painting.

RAPHAELISM Raph"a*el*ism, n.

Defn: The principles of painting introduced by Raphael, the Italian painter.

RAPHAELITE Raph"a*el*ite, n.

Defn: One who advocates or adopts the principles of Raphaelism.

RAPHANY Raph"a*ny, n. Etym: [Cf. F. raphanie.] (Med.)

Defn: A convulsive disease, attended with ravenous hunger, not uncommon in Sweden and Germany. It was so called because supposed to be caused by eating corn with which seeds of jointed charlock (Raphanus raphanistrum) had been mixed, but the condition is now known to be a form of ergotism.

RAPHE Ra"phe (ra"fe), n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.

1. (Anat.)

Defn: A line, ridge, furrow, or band of fibers, especially in the median line; as, the raphe of the tongue.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: Same as Rhaph.

RAPHIDES Raph"i*des, n. pl. Etym: [F. raphide.] (Bot.)

Defn: See Rhaphides.

RAPID Rap"id, a. Etym: [L. rapidus, fr. rapere to seize and carry off, to snatch or hurry away; perhaps akin to Gr. rapide. Cf. Harpy, Ravish.]

1. Very swift or quick; moving with celerity; fast; as, a rapid stream; a rapid flight; a rapid motion. Ascend my chariot; guide the rapid wheels. Milton.

2. Advancing with haste or speed; speedy in progression; in quick sequence; as, rapid growth; rapid improvement; rapid recurrence; rapid succession.

3. Quick in execution; as, a rapid penman.

RAPID Rap"id, n. Etym: [Cf. F. rapide. See Rapid, a.]

Defn: The part of a river where the current moves with great swiftness, but without actual waterfall or cascade; — usually in the plural; as, the Lachine rapids in the St. Lawrence. Row, brothers, row the stream runs fast, The rapids are near, and the daylight's past. Moore.

RAPID-FIRE; RAPID-FIRING Rap"id-fire`, Rap"id-fir`ing, a. (a) (Gun.) Firing shots in rapid succession. (b) (Ordnance) Capable of being fired rapidly; — applied to single- barreled guns of greater caliber than small arms, mounted so as to be quickly trained and elevated, with a quick-acting breech mechanism operated by a single motion of a crank or lever (abbr. R. F.); specif.: (1)

Defn: In the United States navy, designating such a gun using fixed ammunition or metallic cartridge cases; — distinguished from breech- loading (abbr. B. L.), applied to all guns loading with the charge in bags, and formerly from quick-fire. Rapid-fire guns in the navy also sometimes include automatic or semiautomatic rapid-fire guns; the former being automatic guns of not less than one inch caliber, firing a shell of not less than one pound weight, the explosion of each cartridge operating the mechanism for ejecting the empty shell, loading, and firing the next shot, the latter being guns that require one operation of the hand at each discharge, to load the gun. (2)

Defn: In the United States army, designating such a gun, whether using fixed or separate ammunition, designed chiefly for use in coast batteries against torpedo vessels and the lightly armored batteries or other war vessels and for the protection of defensive mine fields; — not distinguished from quick-fire. (3)

Defn: In Great Britain and Europe used, rarely, as synonymous with quick-fire.

RAPID-FIRE MOUNT Rapid-fire mount. (Ordnance)

Defn: A mount permitting easy and quick elevation or depression and training of the gun, and fitting with a device for taking up the recoil.

RAPIDITY Ra*pid"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. rapiditas: cf. F. rapidité.]

Defn: The quality or state of being rapid; swiftness; celerity; velocity; as, the rapidity of growth or improvement.

Syn. — — Rapidness; haste; speed; celerity; velocity; swiftness; fleetness; quickness; agility.

RAPIDLY Rap"id*ly, adv.

Defn: In a rapid manner.

RAPIDNESS Rap"id*ness, n.

Defn: Quality of being rapid; rapidity.

RAPIER Ra"pi*er, n. Etym: [F. rapière, perhaps for raspière, and ultimately of German origin, akin to E. rasp, v.]

Defn: A straight sword, with a narrow and finely pointed blade, used only for thrusting. Rapier fish (Zoöl.), the swordfish. [Obs.] Grew.

RAPIERED Ra"pi*ered, a.

Defn: Wearing a rapier. "Scarletcoated, rapiered figures." Lowell.

RAPILLI Ra*pil"li, n. pl. Etym: [It.] (Min.)

Defn: Lapilli.

RAPINE Rap"ine, n. Etym: [F. rapine; cf. Pr. & It. rapina; all fr. L. rapina, fr. rapere to seize and carry off by force. See Rapid, and cf. Raven rapine.]

1. The act of plundering; the seizing and carrying away of things by force; spoliation; pillage; plunder. Men who were impelled to war quite as much by the desire of rapine as by the desire of glory. Macaulay.

2. Ravishment; rape. [Obs.] Shak.

RAPINE Rap"ine, v. t.

Defn: To plunder. Sir G. Buck.

RAPINOUS Rap"i*nous, a.

Defn: Given to rapine. [Obs.]

RAPPAGE Rap"page, n. (Founding)

Defn: The enlargement of a molt caused by rapping the pattern.

RAPPAREE Rap`pa*ree", n.

Defn: A wild Irish plunderer, esp. one of the 17th century; — so called from his carrying a half-pike, called a rapary. [Written also raparee.]

RAPPED Rapped (râpt),

Defn: imp. & p. p. of Rap, to strike.

RAPPED Rapped,

Defn: imp. & p. p. of Rap, to snatch away.

RAPPEE Rap*pee", n. Etym: [F. râpé, fr. râper to grate, to rasp. See Rasp, v.]

Defn: A pungent kind of snuff made from the darker and ranker kinds of tobacco leaves.

RAPPEL Rap"pel, n. Etym: [F. Cf. Repeal.] (Mil.)

Defn: The beat of the drum to call soldiers to arms.

RAPPER Rap"per, n. Etym: [From Rap.]

1. One who, or that which, raps or knocks; specifically, the knocker of a door. Sterne.

2. A forcible oath or lie. [Slang] Bp. Parker.

RAPPORT Rap*port", n. Etym: [F., fr. rapporter to bring again or back, to refer; pref. re- re- + apporter to bring, L. apporter to bring, L. apportare. Cf. Report.]

Defn: Relation; proportion; conformity; correspondence; accord. 'T is obvious what rapport there is between the conceptions and languages in every country. Sir W. Temple. En` rap`port" ( Etym: [F.], in accord, harmony, or sympathy; having a mutual, especially a private, understanding; in mesmerism, in that relation of sympathy which permits influence or communication.

RAPPROCHEMENT Rap`proche`ment", n. [F., fr. rapprocher to cause to approach again. See Re-; Approach.]

Defn: Act or fact of coming or being drawn near or together; establishment or state of cordial relations.

He had witnessed the gradual rapprochement between the papacy and Austria. Wilfrid Ward.

RAPSCALLION Rap*scal"lion, n. Etym: [See Rascallion.]

Defn: A rascal; a good-for-nothing fellow. [Colloq.] Howitt.

RAPT Rapt,

Defn: imp. & p. p. of Rap, to snatch away.

RAPT Rapt, a.

1. Snatched away; hurried away or along. Waters rapt with whirling away. Spenser.

2. Transported with love, admiration, delight, etc.; enraptured. "The rapt musician." Longfellow. 3. Wholly absorbed or engrossed, as in work or meditation. "Rapt in secret studies." Shak.

RAPT Rapt, n. Etym: [From F. rapt abduction, rape, L. raptus, fr. rapere to seize and carry off, to transport; or fr. E. rapt, a. See Rapt, a., and Rapid.]

1. An ecstasy; a trance. [Obs.] Bp. Morton.

2. Rapidity. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

RAPT Rapt, v. i.

1. To transport or ravish. [Obs.] Drayton.

2. To carry away by force. [Obs.] Daniel.

RAPTER Rap"ter, n.

Defn: A raptor. [Obs.] Drayton.

RAPTOR Rap"tor, n. Etym: [L. raptor, from rapere to ravish. See Rapid.]

Defn: A ravisher; a plunderer. [Obs.]

RAPTORES Rap*to"res, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Raptor.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Accipitres. Called also Raptatores.

RAPTORIAL Rap*to"ri*al, a. (Zoöl.) (a) Rapacious; living upon prey; — said especially of certain birds. (b) Adapted for seizing prey; — said of the legs, claws, etc., of insects, birds, and other animals. (c) Of or pertaining to the Raptores. See Illust. (f) of Aves.

RAPTORIOUS Rap*to"ri*ous, a. Etym: [L. raptorius.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Raptorial.

RAPTURE Rap"ture, n. Etym: [L. rapere, raptum, to carry off by force. See Rapid.]

1. A seizing by violence; a hurrying along; rapidity with violence. [Obs.] That 'gainst a rock, or flat, her keel did dash With headlong rapture. Chapman.

2. The state or condition of being rapt, or carried away from one's self by agreeable excitement; violence of a pleasing passion; extreme joy or pleasure; ecstasy. Music, when thus applied, raises in the mind of the hearer great conceptions; it strengthens devotion, and advances praise into rapture. Addison. You grow correct that once with rapture writ. Pope.

3. A spasm; a fit; a syncope; delirium. [Obs.] Shak.

Syn. — Bliss; ecstasy; transport; delight; exultation.

RAPTURE Rap"ture, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Raptured; p. pr. & vb. n. Rapturing.]

Defn: To transport with excitement; to enrapture. [Poetic] Thomson.

RAPTURIST Rap"tur*ist, n.

Defn: An enthusiast. [Obs.] J. Spencer.

RAPTURIZE Rap"tur*ize, v. i. & i.

Defn: To put, or be put, in a state of rapture. [R.]

RAPTUROUS Rap"tur*ous, a.

Defn: Ecstatic; transporting; ravishing; feeling, expressing, or manifesting rapture; as, rapturous joy, pleasure, or delight; rapturous applause.

RAPTUROUSLY Rap"tur*ous*ly, adv.

Defn: In a rapturous manner.

RARE Rare, a. Etym: [Cf. Rather, Rath.]

Defn: Early. [Obs.] Rude mechanicals that rare and late Work in the market place. Chapman.

RARE Rare, a. [Compar. Rarer; superl. Rarest.] Etym: [Cf. AS. hrer, or E. rare early.]

Defn: Nearly raw; partially cooked; not thoroughly cooked; underdone; as, rare beef or mutton. New-laid eggs, which Baucis' busy care Turned by a gentle fire, and roasted rare. Dryden.

Note: This word is in common use in the United States, but in England its synonym underdone is preferred.

RARE Rare, a. [Compar. Rarer; superl. Rarest.] Etym: [F., fr. L. rarus thin, rare.]

1. Not frequent; seldom met with or occurring; unusual; as, a rare event.

2. Of an uncommon nature; unusually excellent; valuable to a degree seldom found. Rare work, all filled with terror and delight. Cowley. Above the rest I judge one beauty rare. Dryden.

3. Thinly scattered; dispersed. Those rare and solitary, three in flocks. Milton.

4. Characterized by wide separation of parts; of loose texture; not thick or dense; thin; as, a rare atmosphere at high elevations. Water is nineteen times lighter, and by consequence nineteen times rarer, than gold. Sir I. Newton.

Syn. — Scarce; infrequent; unusual; uncommon; singular; extraordinary; incomparable. — Rare, Scarce. We call a thing rare when but few examples, specimens, or instances of it are ever to be met with; as, a rare plant. We speak of a thing as scarce, which, though usually abundant, is for the time being to be had only in diminished quantities; as, a bad harvest makes corn scarce. A perfect union of wit and judgment is one of the rarest things in the world. Burke. When any particular piece of money grew very scarce, it was often recoined by a succeeding emperor. Addison.

RAREBIT Rare"bit, n.

Defn: A dainty morsel; a Welsh rabbit. See Welsh rabbit, under Rabbit.

RAREE-SHOW Rar"ee-show`, n. Etym: [Contr. fr. rarity-show.]

Defn: A show carried about in a box; a peep show. Pope.

RAREFACTION Rar`e*fac"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. raréfaction. See Rarefy.]

Defn: The act or process of rarefying; the state of being rarefied; - - opposed to condensation; as, the rarefaction of air.

RAREFIABLE Rar"e*fi`a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. raréfiable.]

Defn: Capable of being rarefied. Boyle.

RAREFY Rar"e*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rarefied; p. pr. & vb. n. Rarefying.] Etym: [F. raréfier; L. rarus rare + -ficare (in comp.) to make; cf. L. rarefacere. See -fy.]

Defn: To make rare, thin, porous, or less dense; to expand or enlarge without adding any new portion of matter to; — opposed to condense.

RAREFY Rar"e*fy, v. i.

Defn: To become less dense; to become thin and porous. "Earth rarefies to dew." Dryden.

RARELY Rare"ly, adv.

1. In a rare manner or degree; seldom; not often; as, things rarely seen.

2. Finely; excellently; with rare skill. See 3d Rare, 2. The person who played so rarely on the flageolet. Sir W. Scott. The rest of the spartments are rarely gilded. Evelyn.

RARENESS Rare"ness, n.

Defn: The state or quality of being rare. And let the rareness the small gift commend. Dryden.

RARERIPE Rare"ripe`, a. Etym: [Rare early + ripe. Cf. Rathripe.]

Defn: Early ripe; ripe before others, or before the usual season.

RARERIPE Rare"ripe`, n.

Defn: An early ripening fruit, especially a kind of freestone peach.

RARIFICATION Rar`i*fi*ca"tion, n.

Defn: See Rarefaction. [R.] Am. Chem. Journal.

RARITY Rar"i*ty, n.; pl. Rarities. Etym: [L. raritas: cf. F. rareté. See Rare.]

1. The quality or state of being rare; rareness; thinness; as, the rarity (contrasted with the density) of gases.

2. That which is rare; an uncommon thing; a thing valued for its scarcity. I saw three rarities of different kinds, which pleased me more than any other shows in the place. Addison.

RAS Ras, n.

Defn: See 2d Reis.

RASANTE Ra`sante", a. Etym: [F., p. pr. of raser to graze.] (Fort.)

Defn: Sweeping; grazing; — applied to a style of fortification in which the command of the works over each other, and over the country, is kept very low, in order that the shot may more effectually sweep or graze the ground before them. H. L. Scott.

RASCAL Ras"cal, n. Etym: [OE. rascaille rabble, probably from an OF. racaille, F. racaille the rabble, rubbish, probably akin to F. racler to scrape, (assumed) LL. rasiculare, rasicare, fr. L. radere, rasum. See Rase, v.]

1. One of the rabble; a low, common sort of person or creature; collectively, the rabble; the common herd; also, a lean, ill- conditioned beast, esp. a deer. [Obs.] He smote of the people seventy men, and fifty thousand of the rascal. Wyclif (1 Kings [1 Samuel] vi. 19). Poor men alone No, no; the noblest deer hath them [horns] as huge as the rascal. Shak.

2. A mean, trickish fellow; a base, dishonest person; a rogue; a scoundrel; a trickster. For I have sense to serve my turn in store, And he's a rascal who pretends to more. Dryden.

RASCAL Ras`cal, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the common herd or common people; low; mean; base. "The rascal many." Spencer. "The rascal people." Shak. While she called me rascal fiddler. Shak.

RASCALDOM Ras"cal*dom, n.

Defn: State of being a rascal; rascality; domain of rascals; rascals, collectively. Emerson.

RASCALESS Ras"cal*ess, n.

Defn: A female rascal. [Humorous]

RASCALITY Ras*cal`i*ty, n.; pl. Rascalities (

1. The quality or state of being rascally, or a rascal; mean trickishness or dishonesty; base fraud.

2. The poorer and lower classes of people.[Obs.] The chief heads of their clans with their several rascalities T. Jackson.

RASCALLION Ras*cal"lion, n. Etym: [From Rascal]

Defn: A low, mean wretch [Written also rascalion.]

RASCALLY Ras"cal*ly, a.

Defn: Like a rascal; trickish or dishonest; base; worthless; — often in humorous disparagement, without implication of dishonesty. Our rascally porter is fallen fast asleep. Swift.

RASE Rase, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rased; p. pr. & vb. n. Rasing.] Etym: [F. raser, LL. rasare to scrape often, v. freq. fr. L. radere, rasum, to scrape, shave; cf. Skr. rad to scratch, gnaw, L. rodere to gnaw. Cf. Raze, Razee, Razor, Rodent.]

1. To rub along the surface of; to graze.[Obsoles.] Was he not in the . . . neighborhood to death and might not the bullet which rased his cheek have gone into his head South. Sometimes his feet rased the surface of water, and at others the skylight almost flattened his nose. Beckford.

2. To rub or scratch out; to erase. [Obsoles.] Except we rase the faculty of memory, root and branch, out of our mind. Fuller.

3. To level with the ground; to overthrow; to destroy; to raze. [In this sense rase is generally used.] Till Troy were by their brave hands rased, They would not turn home. Chapman.

Note: This word, rase, may be considered as nearly obsolete; graze, erase, and raze, having superseded it. Rasing iron, a tool for removing old oakum and pitch from the seams of a vessel.

Syn. — To erase; efface; obliterate; expunge; cancel; level; prostrate; overthrow; subvert; destroy; demolish; ruin.

RASE Rase, v. i.

Defn: To be leveled with the ground; to fall; to suffer overthrow. [Obs.]

RASE Rase, n.

1. A scratching out, or erasure. [Obs.]

2. A slight wound; a scratch. [Obs.] Hooker.

3. (O. Eng. Law)

Defn: A way of measuring in which the commodity measured was made even with the top of the measuring vessel by rasing, or striking off, all that was above it. Burrill.

RASH Rash, v. t. Etym: [For arace]

1. To pull off or pluck violently. [Obs.]

2. To slash; to hack; to slice. [Obs.] Rushing of helms and riving plates asunder. Spenser.

RASH Rash, n. Etym: [OF. rashe an eruption, scurf, F. rache; fr. (assumed) LL. rasicare to scratch, fr. L. radere, rasum, to scrape, scratch, shave. See Rase, and cf. Rascal.] (Med.)

Defn: A fine eruption or efflorescence on the body, with little or no elevation. Canker rash. See in the Vocabulary. — Nettle rash. See Urticaria. — Rose rash. See Roseola. — Tooth rash. See Red-gum.

RASH Rash, n. Etym: [Cf. F. ras short-nap cloth, It. & Sp. raso satin (cf. Rase); or cf. It. rascia serge, G. rasch, probably fr. Arras in France (cf. Arras).]

Defn: An inferior kind of silk, or mixture of silk and worsted. [Obs.] Donne.

RASH Rash, a. [Compar. Rasher; superl. Rashest.] Etym: [Probably of Scand. origin; cf. Dan. & Sw. rask quick, brisk, rash, Icel. röskr vigorous, brave, akin to D. & G. rasch quick, of uncertain origin.]

1. Sudden in action; quick; hasty. [Obs.] "Strong as aconitum or rash gunpowder." Shak.

2. Requiring sudden action; pressing; urgent. [Obs.] I scarce have leisure to salute you, My matter is so rash. Shak.

3. Esp., overhasty in counsel or action; precipitate; resolving or entering on a project or measure without due deliberation and caution; opposed to prudent; said of persons; as, a rash statesman or commander.

4. Uttered or undertaken with too much haste or too little reflection; as, rash words; rash measures.

5. So dry as to fall out of the ear with handling, as corn. [Prov. Eng.]

Syn. — Precipitate; headlong; headstrong; foolhardy; hasty; indiscreet; heedless; thoughtless; incautious; careless; inconsiderate; unwary. — Rash, Adventurous, Foolhardy. A man is adventurous who incurs risk or hazard from a love of the arduous and the bold. A man is rash who does it from the mere impulse of his feelings, without counting the cost. A man is foolhardy who throws himself into danger in disregard or defiance of the consequences. Was never known a more adventurous knight. Dryden. Her rush hand in evil hour Forth reaching to the fruit, she plucked, she eat. Milton. If any yet to be foolhardy To expose themselves to vain jeopardy; If they come wounded off, and lame, No honors got by such a maim. Hudibras.

RASH Rash, v. t.

Defn: To prepare with haste. [Obs.] Foxe.

RASHER Rash"er, n. Etym: [In sense 1, probably fr. rash, a., as being hastily cooked.]

1. A thin slice of bacon.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A California rockfish (Sebastichthys miniatus).

RASHFUL Rash"ful, a.

Defn: Rash; hasty; precipitate. [Obs.]

RASHLING Rash"ling, n.

Defn: A rash person. [Obs.]

RASHLY Rash"ly, adv.

Defn: In a rush manner; with precipitation. He that doth anything rashly, must do it willingly; for he was free to deliberate or not. L'Estrange.

RASHNESS Rash"ness, n.

Defn: The quality of state of being rash. We offend . . . by rashness, which is an affirming or denying, before we have sufficiently informed ourselves. South.

Syn. — Temerity; foolhardiness; precipitancy; precipitation; hastiness; indiscretion; heedlessness; inconsideration; carelessness. See Temerity.

RASKOLNIK Ras*kol"nik, n. Etym: [Russ. rascolenik' schismatic, heretic.] (Eccl.)

Defn: One of the separatists or dissenters from the established or Greek church in Russia. [Written also rascolnik.]

RASORES Ra*so`res, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. radere, rasum, to scratch. See Rase, v. t.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: An order of birds; the Gallinæ.

Note: Formely, the word Rasores was used in a wider sense, so as to include other birds now widely separated in classification.

RASORIAL Ra*so"ri*al, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Rasores, or gallinaceous birds, as the peacock, domestic fowl, patridge, and the like.

RASOUR Ra"sour, n.

Defn: Rasor. [Obs.] Chaucer.

RASP Rasp, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rasped; p. pr. & vb. n. Rasping.] Etym: [OF. rasper, F. râper, to scrape, grate, rasp, fr. OHG. raspon to scrape together, to collect, probably akin to E. rap. Cf. Rap to snatch.]

1. To rub or file with a rasp; to rub or grate with a rough file; as, to rasp wood to make it smooth; to rasp bones to powder.

2. Hence, figuratively: To grate harshly upon; to offend by coarse or rough treatment or language; as, some sounds rasp the ear; his insults rasped my temper.

RASP Rasp, n. Etym: [OE. raspe, OF. raspe, F. râpe. See Rasp, v.]

1. A coarse file, on which the cutting prominences are distinct points raised by the oblique stroke of a sharp punch, instead of lines raised by a chisel, as on the true file.

2. The raspberry. [Obs.] "Set sorrel amongst rasps, and the rasps will be smaller." Bacon. Rasp palm (Bot.), a Brazilian palm tree (Iriartea exorhiza) which has strong aërial roots like a screw pine. The roots have a hard, rough surface, and are used by the natives for graters and rasps, whence the common name.

RASPATORIUM Ras`pa*to"ri*um, n. Etym: [LL.]

Defn: See Raspatory.

RASPATORY Rasp"a*to*ry, n. Etym: [LL. raspatorium: cf. F. raspatoir. See Rasp, v.]

Defn: A surgeon's rasp. Wiseman.

RASPBERRY Rasp"ber*ry, n, Etym: [From E. rasp, in allusion to the apparent roughness of the fruit.] (Bot.) (a) The thimble-shaped fruit of the Rubus Idæus and other similar brambles; as, the black, the red and the white raspberry. (b) The shrub bearing this fruit.

Note: Technically, raspberries are those brambles in which the fruit separates readily from the core or receptacle, in this differing from the blackberries, in which the fruit is firmly attached to the receptacle.

RASPER Rasp"er, n.

Defn: One who, or which, rasps; a scraper.

RASPIS Ras"pis, n.

Defn: The raspberry. [Obs.] Langham.

RASPY Rasp"y, a.

Defn: Like a rasp, or the sound made by a rasp; grating. R. D. Blackmore.

RASSE Rasse, n. Etym: [Cf. Malay rasa taste, sensation.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A carnivore (Viverricula Mallaccensis) allied to the civet but smaller, native of China and the East Indies. It furnishes a perfume resembling that of the civet, which is highly prized by the Javanese. Called also Malacca weasel, and lesser civet.

RASURE Ra"sure, n. Etym: [L. rasura, fr. radere, rasum, to scrape, to shave. See Rase, v.]

1. The act of rasing, scraping, or erasing; erasure; obliteration.

2. A mark by which a letter, word, or any part of a writing or print, is erased, effaced, or obliterated; an erasure. Ayliffe.

RAT Rat, n. Etym: [AS. ræt; akin to D. rat, OHG. rato, ratta, G. ratte, ratze, OLG. ratta, LG. & Dan. rotte, Sw. råtta, F. rat, Ir. & Gael radan, Armor. raz, of unknown origin. Cf. Raccoon.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the several species of small rodents of the genus Mus and allied genera, larger than mice, that infest houses, stores, and ships, especially the Norway, or brown, rat (M. Alexandrinus). These were introduced into Anerica from the Old World.

2. A round and tapering mass of hair, or similar material, used by women to support the puffs and rolls of their natural hair. [Local, U.S.]

3. One who deserts his party or associates; hence, in the trades, one who works for lower wages than those prescribed by a trades union. [Cant]

Note: "It so chanced that, not long after the accession of the house of Hanover, some of the brown, that is the German or Norway, rats, were first brought over to this country (in some timber as is said); and being much stronger than the black, or, till then, the common, rats, they in many places quite extirpated the latter. The word (both the noun and the verb to rat) was first, as we have seen, leveled at the converts to the government of George the First, but has by degrees obtained a wide meaning, and come to be applied to any sudden and mercenary change in politics." Lord Mahon. Bamboo rat (Zoöl.), any Indian rodent of the genus Rhizomys. — Beaver rat, Coast rat. (Zoöl.) See under Beaver and Coast. — Blind rat (Zoöl.), the mole rat. — Cotton rat (Zoöl.), a long-haired rat (Sigmodon hispidus), native of the Southern United States and Mexico. It makes its nest of cotton and is often injurious to the crop. — Ground rat. See Ground Pig, under Ground. — Hedgehog rat. See under Hedgehog. — Kangaroo rat (Zoöl.), the potoroo. — Norway rat (Zoöl.), the common brown rat. See Rat. — Pouched rat. (Zoöl.) (a) See Pocket Gopher, under Pocket. (b) Any African rodent of the genus Cricetomys. Rat Indians (Ethnol.), a tribe of Indians dwelling near Fort Ukon, Alaska. They belong to Athabascan stock. — Rat mole. (Zoöl.) See Mole rat, under Mole. — Rat pit, an inclosed space into which rats are put to be killed by a dog for sport. — Rat snake (Zoöl.), a large colubrine snake (Ptyas mucosus) very common in India and Ceylon. It enters dwellings, and destroys rats, chickens, etc. — Spiny rat (Zoöl.), any South America rodent of the genus Echinomys. — To smell a rat. See under Smell. — Wood rat (Zoöl.), any American rat of the genus Neotoma, especially N. Floridana, common in the Southern United States. Its feet and belly are white.

RAT Rat, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Ratted; p. pr. & vb. n. Ratting.]

1. In English politics, to desert one's party from interested motives; to forsake one's associates for one's own advantage; in the trades, to work for less wages, or on other conditions, than those established by a trades union. Coleridge . . . incurred the reproach of having ratted, solely by his inability to follow the friends of his early days. De Quincey.

2. To catch or kill rats.

RATA Ra"ta, n. Etym: [Maori.] (Bot.)

Defn: A New Zealand forest tree (Metrosideros robusta), also, its hard dark red wood, used by the Maoris for paddles and war clubs.

RATABILITY Rat`a*bil"i*ty, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being ratable.

RATABLE Rat"a*ble, a.

1. Capable of being rated, or set at a certain value. Twenty oræ were ratable to [at] two marks of silver. Camden.

2. Liable to, or subjected by law to, taxation; as, ratable estate.

3. Made at a proportionate rate; as, ratable payments. — Rat"a*ble*ness, n. — Rat"a*bly, adv.

RATAFIA Rat`a*fi"a, n. Etym: [F., fr. Malay arak arrack + tafia a spirit distilled from molasses.]

Defn: A spirituous liquor flavored with the kernels of cherries, apricots, peaches, or other fruit, spiced, and sweetened with sugar; — a term applied to the liqueurs called noyau, curaçao, etc. [Written also ratifia and ratafee.]

RATAN Ra*tan", n.

Defn: See Rattan.

RATANY Rat"a*ny, n. (Bot.)

Defn: Same as Rhatany.

RATAPLAN Ra`ta`plan", n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: The iterative sound of beating a drum, or of a galloping horse.

RATCH Ratch, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Rotche.

RATCH Ratch, n. Etym: [See Rack the instrument, Ratchet.]

Defn: A ratchet wheel, or notched bar, with which a pawl or chick works.

RATCHEL Ratch"el, n.

Defn: Gravelly stone. [Prov. Eng.]

RATCHET Ratch"et, n. Etym: [Properly a diminutive from the same word as rack: cf. F. rochet. See 2d Ratch, Rack the instrument.]

1. A pawl, click, or detent, for holding or propelling a ratchet wheel, or ratch, etc.

2. A mechanism composed of a ratchet wheel, or ratch, and pawl. See Ratchet wheel, below, and 2d Ratch. Ratchet brace (Mech.), a boring brace, having a ratchet wheel and pawl for rotating the tool by back and forth movements of the brace handle. — Ratchet drill, a portable machine for working a drill by hand, consisting of a hand lever carrying at one end a drill holder which is revolved by means of a ratchet wheel and pawl, by swinging the lever back and forth. — Ratchet wheel (Mach.), a circular wheel having teeth, usually angular, with which a reciprocating pawl engages to turn the wheel forward, or a stationary pawl to hold it from turning backward.

Note: In the cut, the moving pawl c slides over the teeth in one direction, but in returning, draws the wheel with it, while the pawl d prevents it from turning in the contrary direction.

RATE Rate, v. t. & i. Etym: [Perh. fr. E. rate, v. t., to value at a certain rate, to estimate, but more prob. fr. Sw. rata to find fault, to blame, to despise, to hold cheap; cf. Icel. hrat refuse, hrati rubbish.]

Defn: To chide with vehemence; to scold; to censure violently. Spencer. Go, rate thy minions, proud, insulting boy! Shak. Conscience is a check to beginners in sin, reclaiming them from it, and rating them for it. Barrow.

RATE Rate, n. Etym: [OF., fr. L. rata (sc. pars), fr. ratus reckoned, fixed by calculation, p. p. of reri to reckon, to calculate. Cf. Reason.]

1. Established portion or measure; fixed allowance. The one right feeble through the evil rate, Of food which in her duress she had found. Spenser.

2. That which is established as a measure or criterion; degree; standard; rank; proportion; ratio; as, a slow rate of movement; rate of interest is the ratio of the interest to the principal, per annum. Heretofore the rate and standard of wit was different from what it is nowadays. South. In this did his holiness and godliness appear above the rate and pitch of other men's, in that he was so . . . merciful. Calamy. Many of the horse could not march at that rate, nor come up soon enough. Clarendon.

3. Variation; prise fixed with relation to a standard; cost; charge; as, high or low rates of transportation. They come at dear rates from Japan. Locke.

4. A tax or sum assessed by authority on property for public use, according to its income or value; esp., in England, a local tax; as, parish rates; town rates.

5. Order; arrangement. [Obs.] Thus sat they all around in seemly rate. Spenser.

6. Ratification; approval. [R.] Chapman.

7. (Horol.)

Defn: The gain or loss of a timepiece in a unit of time; as, daily rate; hourly rate; etc.

8. (Naut.) (a) The order or class to which a war vessel belongs, determined according to its size, armament, etc.; as, first rate, second rate, etc. (b) The class of a merchant vessel for marine insurance, determined by its relative safety as a risk, as A1, A2, etc.

RATE Rate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rated; p. pr. & vb. n. Rating.]

1. To set a certain estimate on; to value at a certain price or degree. To rate a man by the nature of his companions is a rule frequent indeed, but not infallible. South. You seem not high enough your joys to rate. Dryden.

2. To assess for the payment of a rate or tax.

3. To settle the relative scale, rank, position, amount, value, or quality of; as, to rate a ship; to rate a seaman; to rate a pension.

4. To ratify. [Obs.] "To rate the truce." Chapman. To rate a chronometer, to ascertain the exact rate of its gain or loss as compared with true time, so as to make an allowance or computation depended thereon.

Syn. — To value; appraise; estimate; reckon.

RATE Rate, v. i.

1. To be set or considered in a class; to have rank; as, the ship rates as a ship of the line.

2. To make an estimate.

RATEABLE Rate"a*ble, a.

Defn: See Ratable.

RATEL Ra"tel, n. Etym: [F.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any carnivore of the genus Mellivora, allied to the weasels and the skunks; — called also honey badger.

Note: Several species are known in Africa and India. The Cape ratel (M. Capensis) and the Indian ratel (M. Indica) are the best known. The back is gray; the lower parts, face, and tail are black. They are fond of honey, and rob the nests of wild bees.

RATEPAYER Rate"pay`er, n.

Defn: One who pays rates or taxes.

RATER Rat"er, n.

Defn: One who rates or estimates.

RATER Rat"er, n.

Defn: One who rates or scolds.

RATFISH Rat"fish`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Rat-tail.

RATH Rath, n. Etym: [Ir. rath.]

1. A hill or mound. [Ireland] Spencer.

2. A kind of ancient fortification found in Ireland.

RATH; RATHE Rath, Rathe, a. Etym: [AS. hræ\'eb, hræd, quick, akin to OHG. hrad, Icel. hrathr.]

Defn: Coming before others, or before the usual time; early. [Obs. or Poetic] Bring the rathe primrose that forsaken dies. Milton.

RATH; RATHE Rath, Rathe, adv.

Defn: Early; soon; betimes. [Obs. or Poetic] Why rise ye up so rathe Chaucer. Too rathe cut off by practice criminal. Spencer.

RATHER Rath"er, a. Etym: [Compar. of Rath, a.]

Defn: Prior; earlier; former. [Obs.] Now no man dwelleth at the rather town. Sir J. Mandeville.

RATHER Rath"er, adv. Etym: [AS. hrathor, compar. of hrathe, hræ\'ebe, quickly, immediately. See Rath, a.]

1. Earlier; sooner; before. [Obs.] Thou shalt, quod he, be rather false than I. Chaucer. A good mean to come the rather to grace. Foxe.

2. More readily or willingly; preferably. My soul chooseth . . . death rather than my life. Job vii. 15.

3. On the other hand; to the contrary of what was said or suggested; instead. Was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse. Mark v. 26.

4. Of two alternatives conceived of, by preference to, or as more likely than, the other; somewhat. He sought throughout the world, but sought in vain, And nowhere finding, rather feared her slain. Dryden.

5. More properly; more correctly speaking. This is an art Which does mend nature, change it rather, but The art itself is nature. Shak.

6. In some degree; somewhat; as, the day is rather warm; the house is rather damp. The rather, the more so; especially; for better reason; for particular cause. You are come to me in happy time, The rather for I have some sport in hand. Shak. — Had rather, or Would rather, prefer to; prefers to; as, he had, or would, rather go than stay. "I had rather speak five words with my understanding than ten thousands words in an unknown tongue." 1 Cor. xiv. 19. See Had rather, under Had.

RATHRIPE Rath"ripe`, a.

Defn: Rareripe, or early ripe. — n.

Defn: A rareripe. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Such who delight in rathripe fruits. Fuller.

RATHSKELLER Raths"kel`ler (räts"kel*ler), n. [G., also ratskeller, prop., town- hall cellar.]

Defn: Orig., in Germany, the cellar or basement of the city hall, usually rented for use as a restaurant where beer is sold; hence, a beer saloon of the German type below the street level, where, usually, drinks are served only at tables and simple food may also be had; — sometimes loosely used, in English, of what are essentially basement restaurants where liquors are served.

RATIFICATION Rat`i*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. ratification.]

Defn: The act of ratifying; the state of being ratified; confirmation; sanction; as, the ratification of a treaty.

RATIFIER Rat"i*fi`er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, ratifies; a confirmer. Shak.

RATIFY Rat"i*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ratified; p. pr. & vb. n. Ratifying.] Etym: [F. ratifier, fr. L. ratus fixed by calculation, firm, valid + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See Rate, n., and -fy.]

Defn: To approve and sanction; to make valid; to establish; to settle; especially, to give sanction to, as something done by an agent or servant; as, to ratify an agreement, treaty, or contract; to ratify a nomination. It is impossible for the divine power to set a seal to a lie by ratifying an imposture with such a miracle. South.

RATIHABITION Rat`i*ha*bi"tion, n. Etym: [L. ratihabitio; ratus fixed, valid + habere to hold.]

Defn: Confirmation or approbation, as of an act or contract. [Obs.] Jer. Tailor.

RATIO Ra"ti*o, n. Etym: [L., fr. reri, ratus, to reckon, believe, think, judge. See Reason.]

1. (Math.)

Defn: The relation which one quantity or magnitude has to another of the same kind. It is expressed by the quotient of the division of the first by the second; thus, the ratio of 3 to 6 is expressed by a to b by a/b; or (less commonly) the second is made the dividend; as, a:b = b/a.

Note: Some writers consider ratio as the quotient itself, making ratio equivalent to a number. The term ratio is also sometimes applied to the difference of two quantities as well as to their quotient, in which case the former is called arithmetical ratio, the latter, geometrical ratio. The name ratio is sometimes given to the rule of three in arithmetic. See under Rule.

2. Hence, fixed relation of number, quantity, or degree; rate; proportion; as, the ratio of representation in Congress. Compound ratio, Duplicate ratio, Inverse ratio, etc. See under Compound, Duplicate, etc. — Ratio of a geometrical progression, the constant quantity by which each term is multiplied to produce the succeeding one.

RATIOCINATE Ra`ti*oc"i*nate, v. i. Etym: [L. ratiocinatus, p. p. of ratiocinari, fr. ratio reason. See Ratio.]

Defn: To reason, esp. deductively; to offer reason or argument.

RATIOCINATION Ra`ti*oc"i*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. ratiocinatio: cf. F. ratiocination.]

Defn: The process of reasoning, or deducing conclusions from premises; deductive reasoning.

RATIOCINATIVE Ra`ti*oc"i*na*tive, a. Etym: [L. ratiocinativus.]

Defn: Characterized by, or addicted to, ratiocination; consisting in the comparison of proportions or facts, and the deduction of inferences from the comparison; argumentative; as, a ratiocinative process. The ratiocinative meditativeness of his character. Coleridge.

RATIOCINATORY Ra`ti*oc"i*na*to*ry, a.

Defn: Ratiocinative. [R.]

RATION Ra"tion, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. ratio a reckoning, calculation, relation, reference, LL. ratio ration. See Ratio.]

1. A fixed daily allowance of provisions assigned to a soldier in the army, or a sailor in the navy, for his subsistence.

Note: Officers have several rations, the number varying according to their rank or the number of their attendants.

2. Hence, a certain portion or fixed amount dealt out; an allowance; an allotment.

RATION Ra"tion, v. t.

Defn: To supply with rations, as a regiment.

RATIONAL Ra"tion*al, a. Etym: [L. rationalis: cf. F. rationnel. See Ratio, Reason, and cf. Rationale.]

1. Relating to reason; not physical; mental. Moral philosophy was his chiefest end; for the rational, the natural, and mathematics . . . were but simple pastimes in comparison of the other. Sir T. North.

2. Having reason, or the faculty of reasoning; endowed with reason or understanding; reasoning. It is our glory and happiness to have a rational nature. Law.

3. Agreeable to reason; not absurd, preposterous, extravagant, foolish, fanciful, or the like; wise; judicious; as, rational conduct; a rational man.

4. (Chem.)

Defn: Expressing the type, structure, relations, and reactions of a compound; graphic; — said of formulæ. See under Formula. Rational horizon. (Astron.) See Horizon, 2 (b). — Rational quantity (Alg. ), one that can be expressed without the use of a radical sign, or in extract parts of unity; — opposed to irrational or radical quantity. — Rational symptom (Med.), one elicited by the statements of the patient himself and not as the result of a physical examination.

Syn. — Sane; sound; intelligent; reasonable; sensible; wise; discreet; judicious. — Rational, reasonable. Rational has reference to reason as a faculty of the mind, and is opposed to traditional; as, a rational being, a rational state of mind, rational views, etc. In these cases the speculative reason is more particularly, referred to. Reasonable has reference to the exercise of this faculty for practical purposes, and means, governed or directed by reason; as, reasonable prospect of success. What higher in her society thou find'st Attractive, human, rational, love still. Milton. A law may be reasonable in itself, although a man does not allow it, or does not know the reason of the lawgivers. Swift.

RATIONAL Ra"tion*al, n.

Defn: A rational being. Young.

RATIONALE Ra`tion*a"le, n. Etym: [L. rationalis, neut. rationale. See Rational, a.]

Defn: An explanation or exposition of the principles of some opinion, action, hypothesis, phenomenon, or like; also, the principles themselves.

RATIONALISM Ra"tion*al*ism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. rationalisme.]

1. (Theol.)

Defn: The doctrine or system of those who deduce their religious opinions from reason or the understanding, as distinct from, or opposed to, revelation.

2. (Philos.)

Defn: The system that makes rational power the ultimate test of truth; — opposed to sensualism, or sensationalism, and empiricism. Fleming.

RATIONALIST Ra"tion*al*ist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. rationaliste.]

Defn: One who accepts rationalism as a theory or system; also, disparagingly, a false reasoner. See Citation under Reasonist.

RATIONALISTIC; RATIONALISTICAL Ra`tion*al*is"tic, Ra`tion*al*is"tic*al a.

Defn: Belonging to, or in accordance with, the principles of rationalism. — Ra`tion*al*is"tic*al*ly, adv.

RATIONALITY Ra`tion*al"i*ty, n.; pl. -ties. Etym: [F. rationalité, or L. rationalitas.]

Defn: The quality or state of being rational; agreement with reason; possession of reason; due exercise of reason; reasonableness. When God has made rationality the common portion of mankind, how came it to be thy inclosure Gov. of Tongue. Well-directed intentions, whose rationalities will never bear a rigid examination. Sir T. Browne.

RATIONALIZATION Ra`tion*al*i*za"tion, n.

Defn: The act or process of rationalizing.

RATIONALIZE Ra"tion*al*ize, v. t.

1. To make rational; also, to convert to rationalism.

2. To interpret in the manner of a rationalist.

3. To form a rational conception of.

4. (Alg.)

Defn: To render rational; to free from radical signs or quantities.

RATIONALIZE Ra"tion*al*ize, v. i.

Defn: To use, and rely on, reason in forming a theory, belief, etc., especially in matters of religion: to accord with the principles of rationalism. Theodore . . . is just considered the chief rationalizing doctor of antiquity. J. H. Newman.

RATIONALLY Ra"tion*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In a rational manner.

RATIONALNESS Ra"tion*al*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being rational; rationality.

RATITAE Ra*ti"tæ, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. ratis a raft; cf. L. ratitus marked with the figure of a raft.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: An order of birds in which the wings are small, rudimentary, or absent, and the breastbone is destitute of a keel. The ostrich, emu, and apteryx are examples.

RATITATE Rat"i*tate, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Ratitæ.

RATITE Rat"ite, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Ratitæ. — n.

Defn: One of the Ratitæ.

RATLINES; RATLINS Rat"lines, rat"lins, n. pl. Etym: [Of uncertain origin.] (Naut.)

Defn: The small transverse ropes attached to the shrouds and forming the steps of a rope ladder. [Written also ratlings, and rattlings.] Totten.

RATON Rat"on, n. Etym: [Cf. Raccoon.]

Defn: A small rat. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.

RATOON Ra*toon", n.

1. Same as Rattoon, n.

2. A rattan cane. [Obs.] Pepys.

RATOON Ra*toon", v. i.

Defn: Same as Rattoon, v. i.

RATSBANE Rats"bane, n. Etym: [Rat + bane.]

Defn: Rat poison; white arsenic.

RATSBANED Rats"baned`, a.

Defn: Poisoned by ratsbane.

RAT-TAIL Rat"-tail`, a.

Defn: Like a rat's tale in form; as, a rat-tail file, which is round, slender, and tapering. See Illust. of File.

RAT-TAIL Rat"-tail`, n.

1. (Far.) pl.

Defn: An excrescence growing from the pastern to the middle of the shank of a horse.

2. (Zoöl.) (a) The California chimæra. See Chimæra. (b) Any fish of the genus Macrurus. See Grenadier, 2.

RAT-TAILED Rat"-tailed`, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having a long, tapering tail like that of a rat. Rat-tailed larva (Zoöl.), the larva of a fly of the genus Eristalis. See Eristalis. — Rat-tailed serpent (Zoöl.), the fer-de-lance. — Rat-tailed shrew (Zoöl.), the musk shrew.

RATTAN Rat*tan", n. Etym: [Malay rotan.] [Written also ratan.] (Bot. )

Defn: One of the long slender flexible stems of several species of palms of the genus Calamus, mostly East Indian, though some are African and Australian. They are exceedingly tough, and are used for walking sticks, wickerwork, chairs and seats of chairs, cords and cordage, and many other purposes.

RATTEEN Rat*teen", n. Etym: [F. ratine.]

Defn: A thick woolen stuff quilled or twilled.

RATTEN Rat"ten, v. t. Etym: [Prov. E. ratten a rat, hence the verb literally means, to do mischief like a rat.]

Defn: To deprive feloniously of the tools used in one's employment (as by breaking or stealing them), for the purpose of annoying; as, to ratten a mechanic who works during a strike. [Trades-union Cant] J. McCarthy.

RATTER Rat"ter, n.

1. One who, or that which, rats, as one who deserts his party.

2. Anything which catches rats; esp., a dog trained to catch rats; a rat terrier. See Terrier.

RATTINET Rat`ti*net", n.

Defn: A woolen stuff thinner than ratteen.

RATTING Rat"ting, n.

1. The conduct or practices of one who rats. See Rat, v. i., 1. Sydney Smith.

2. The low sport of setting a dog upon rats confined in a pit to see how many he will kill in a given time.

RATTLE Rat"tle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Rattled; p. pr. & vb. n. Rattling.] Etym: [Akin to D. ratelen, G. rasseln, AS. hrætele a rattle, in hrætelwyrt rattlewort; cf. Gr. Rail a bird.]

1. To make a quick succession of sharp, inharmonious noises, as by the collision of hard and not very sonorous bodies shaken together; to clatter. And the rude hail in rattling tempest forms. Addison. 'T was but the wind, Or the car rattling o'er the stony street. Byron.

2. To drive or ride briskly, so as to make a clattering; as, we rattled along for a couple of miles. [Colloq.]

3. To make a clatter with a voice; to talk rapidly and idly; to clatter; — with on or away; as, she rattled on for an hour. [Colloq.]

RATTLE Rat"tle, v. t.

1. To cause to make a ratting or clattering sound; as, to rattle a chain.

2. To assail, annoy, or stun with a ratting noise. Sound but another [drum], and another shall As loud as thine rattle the welkin's ear. Shak.

3. Hence, to disconcert; to confuse; as, to rattle one's judgment; to rattle a player in a game. [Colloq.]

4. To scold; to rail at. L'Estrange. To rattle off. (a) To tell glibly or noisily; as, to rattle off a story. (b) To rail at; to scold. "She would sometimes rattle off her servants sharply." Arbuthnot.

RATTLE Rat"tle, n.

1. A rapid succession of sharp, clattering sounds; as, the rattle of a drum. Prior.

2. Noisy, rapid talk. All this ado about the golden age is but an empty rattle and frivolous conceit. Hakewill.

3. An instrument with which a ratting sound is made; especially, a child's toy that rattle when shaken. The rattles of Isis and the cymbals of Brasilea nearly enough resemble each other. Sir W. Raleigh. Pleased with a rattle, tickled with a straw. Pope.

4. A noisy, senseless talker; a jabberer. It may seem strange that a man who wrote with so much perspicuity, vivacity, and grace, should have been, whenever he took a part in conversation, an empty, noisy, blundering rattle. Macaulay.

5. A scolding; a sharp rebuke. [Obs.] Heylin.

6. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any organ of an animal having a structure adapted to produce a ratting sound.

Note: The rattle of the rattlesnake is composed of the hardened terminal scales, loosened in succession, but not cast off, and so modified in form as to make a series of loose, hollow joints.

7. The noise in the throat produced by the air in passing through mucus which the lungs are unable to expel; — chiefly observable at the approach of death, when it is called the death rattle. See Râle. To spring a rattle, to cause it to sound. — Yellow rattle (Bot.), a yellow-flowered herb (Rhinanthus Crista- galli), the ripe seeds of which rattle in the inflated calyx.

RATTLEBOX Rat"tle*box`, n.

1. A toy that makes a rattle sound; a rattle.

2. (Bot.) (a) An American herb (Crotalaria sagittalis), the seeds of which, when ripe, rattle in the inflated pod. (b) Any species of Crotalaria, a genus of yellow-flowered herbs, with inflated, many-seeded pods.

RATTLE-BRAINED Rat"tle-brained`, a.

Defn: Giddy; rattle-headed.

RATTLEHEAD Rat"tle*head`, n.

Defn: An empty, noisy talker.

RATTLE-HEADED Rat"tle-head`ed, a.

Defn: Noisy; giddy; unsteady.

RATTLEMOUSE Rat"tle*mouse`, n.

Defn: A bat. [Obs.] Puttenham.

RATTLEPATE Rat"tle*pate`, n.

Defn: A rattlehead. C. Kingsley.

RATTLE-PATED Rat"tle-pat`ed, a.

Defn: Rattle-headed. "A noisy, rattle-pated fellow." W. Irving.

RATTLER Rat"tler, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, rattles.

RATTLESNAKE Rat"tle*snake`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of several species of venomous American snakes belonging to the genera Crotalus and Caudisona, or Sistrurus. They have a series of horny interlocking joints at the end of the tail which make a sharp ratting sound when shaken. The common rattlesnake of the Northern United States (Crotalus horridus), and the diamond rattlesnake of the south (C. adamanteus), are the best known. See Illust. of Fang. Ground rattlesnake (Zoöl.), a small rattlesnake (Caudisona, or Sistrurus, miliaria) of the Southern United States, having a small rattle. It has nine large scales on its head. — Rattlesnake fern (Bot.), a common American fern (Botrychium Virginianum) having a triangular decompound frond and a long-stalked panicle of spore cases rising from the middle of the frond. — Rattlesnake grass (Bot.), a handsome American grass (Glyceria Canadensis) with an ample panicle of rather large ovate spikelets, each one composed of imbricated parts and slightly resembling the rattle of the rattlesnake. Sometimes called quaking grass. — Rattlesnake plantain (Bot.), See under Plantain. — Rattlesnake root (Bot.), a name given to certain American species of the composite genus Prenanthes (P. alba and P. serpentaria), formerly asserted to cure the bite of the rattlesnake. Calling also lion's foot, gall of the earth, and white lettuce. — Rattlesnake's master (Bot.) (a) A species of Agave (Agave Virginica) growing in the Southern United States. (b) An umbelliferous plant (Eryngium yuccæfolium) with large bristly-fringed linear leaves. (c) A composite plant, the blazing star (Liatris squarrosa). — Rattlesnake weed (Bot.), a plant of the composite genus Hieracium (H. venosum); — probably so named from its spotted leaves. See also Snakeroot.

RATTLETRAP Rat"tle*trap`, n.

Defn: Any machine or vehicle that does not run smoothly. [Colloq.] A. Trollope.

RATTLEWEED Rat"tle*weed`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: Any plant of the genus Astragalus. See Milk vetch.

RATTLEWINGS Rat"tle*wings`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The golden-eye.

RATTLEWORT Rat"tle*wort`, n. Etym: [AS. hrætelwyrt.] (Bot.)

Defn: Same as Rattlebox.

RATTLINGS Rat"tlings, n. pl. (Naut.)

Defn: Ratlines.

RATTOON Rat*toon", n. Etym: [Sp. retoño.]

Defn: One of the stems or shoots of sugar cane of the second year's growth from the root, or later. See Plant-cane.

RATTOON Rat*toon", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Rattooned; p. pr. & vb. n. Rattooning.] Etym: [Cf. Sp. retoñar.]

Defn: To sprout or spring up from the root, as sugar cane of the previous year's planting.

RAUCID Rau"cid, a. Etym: [L. raucus hoarse; cf. LL. raucidus.]

Defn: Hoarse; raucous [R.] Lamb.

RAUCITY Rau"ci*ty, n. Etym: [L. rausitas, from raucus hoarse: cf. F. raucité.]

Defn: Harshness of sound; rough utterance; hoarseness; as, the raucity of a trumpet, or of the human voice.

RAUCOUS Rau"cous, a. Etym: [L. raucus.]

Defn: Hoarse; harsh; rough; as, a raucous, thick tone. "His voice slightly raucous." Aytoun. — Rau"cous*ly, adv.

RAUGHT Raught, obs.

Defn: imp. & p. p. of Reach. Shak.

RAUGHT Raught, obs.

Defn: imp. & p. p. of Reck. Chaucer.

RAUNCH Raunch, v. t.

Defn: See Ranch. Spenser.

RAUNSOUN Raun*soun", n.

Defn: Ransom. [Obs.] Chaucer.

RAVAGE Rav"age (; 48), n. Etym: [F., fr. (assumed) L. rapagium, rapaticum, fr. rapere to carry off by force, to ravish. See Rapacious, Ravish.]

Defn: Desolation by violence; violent ruin or destruction; devastation; havoc; waste; as, the ravage of a lion; the ravages of fire or tempest; the ravages of an army, or of time. Would one think 't were possible for love To make such ravage in a noble soul Addison.

Syn. — Despoilment; devastation; desolation; pillage; plunder; spoil; waste; ruin.

RAVAGE Rav"age, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ravaged; p. pr. & vb. n. Ravaging.] Etym: [F. ravager. See Ravage, n.]

Defn: To lay waste by force; to desolate by violence; to commit havoc or devastation upon; to spoil; to plunder; to consume. Already Cæsar Has ravaged more than half the globe. Addison. His lands were daily ravaged, his cattle driven away. Macaulay.

Syn. — To despoil; pillage; plunger; sack; spoil; devastate; desolate; destroy; waste; ruin.

RAVAGER Rav"a*ger, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, ravages or lays waste; spoiler.

RAVE Rave, n. Etym: [Prov. E. raves, or rathes, a frame laid on a wagon, for carrying hay, etc.]

Defn: One of the upper side pieces of the frame of a wagon body or a sleigh.

RAVE Rave, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Raved; p. pr. & vb. n. Raving.] Etym: [F. rêver to rave, to be delirious, to dream; perhaps fr. L. rabere to rave, rage, be mad or furious. Cf. Rage, Reverie.]

1. To wander in mind or intellect; to be delirious; to talk or act irrationally; to be wild, furious, or raging, as a madman. In our madness evermore we rave. Chaucer. Have I not cause to rave and beat my breast Addison. The mingled torrent of redcoats and tartans went raving down the valley to the gorge of Kiliecrankie. Macaulay.