R R (är). (continued 3)

2. To rush wildly or furiously. Spencer.

3. To talk with unreasonable enthusiasm or excessive passion or excitement; — followed by about, of, or on; as, he raved about her beauty. The hallowed scene Which others rave on, though they know it not. Byron.

RAVE Rave, v. t.

Defn: To utter in madness or frenzy; to say wildly; as, to rave nonsense. Young.

RAVEHOOK Rave"hook, n. (Shipbuilding)

Defn: A tool, hooked at the end, for enlarging or clearing seams for the reception of oakum.

RAVEL Rav"el, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Raveled or Ravelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Raveling or Ravelling.] Etym: [. ravelen, D. rafelen, akin to LG. rebeln, rebbeln, reffeln.]

1. To separate or undo the texture of; to take apart; to untwist; to unweave or unknit; — often followed by out; as, to ravel a twist; to ravel out a sticking. Sleep, that knits up the raveled sleave of care. Shak.

2. To undo the intricacies of; to disentangle.

3. To pull apart, as the threads of a texture, and let them fall into a tangled mass; hence, to entangle; to make intricate; to involve. What glory's due to him that could divide Such raveled interests has he not untied Waller. The faith of very many men seems a duty so weak and indifferent, is so often untwisted by violence, or raveled and entangled in weak discourses! Jer. Taylor.

RAVEL Rav"el, v. i.

1. To become untwisted or unwoven; to be disentangled; to be relieved of intricacy.

2. To fall into perplexity and confusion. [Obs.] Till, by their own perplexities involved, They ravel more, still less resolved. Milton.

3. To make investigation or search, as by picking out the threads of a woven pattern. [Obs.] The humor of raveling into all these mystical or entangled matters. Sir W. Temple.

RAVELER Rav"el*er, n. Etym: [Also raveller.]

Defn: One who ravels.

RAVELIN Rave"lin, n. Etym: [F.; cf. Sp. rebellin, It. revellino, rivellino; perhaps fr. L. re- again + vallum wall.] (Fort.)

Defn: A detached work with two embankments with make a salient angle. It is raised before the curtain on the counterscarp of the place. Formerly called demilune and half-moon.

RAVELING Rav"el*ing, n. Etym: [Also ravelling.]

1. The act of untwisting, or of disentangling.

2. That which is raveled out; esp., a thread detached from a texture.

RAVEN Ra"ven, n. Etym: [AS. hræfn; akin to raaf, G. rabe, OHG. hraban, Icel. hrafn, Dan. ravn, and perhaps to L. corvus, Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A large black passerine bird (Corvus corax), similar to the crow, but larger. It is native of the northern part of Europe, Asia and America, and is noted for its sagacity. Sea raven (Zoöl.), the cormorant.

RAVEN Ra"ven, a.

Defn: Of the color of the raven; jet black; as, raven curls; raven darkness.

RAVEN Rav"en, n. Etym: [OF. ravine impetuosity, violence, F. ravine ravine. See Ravine, Rapine.] [Written also ravin, and ravine.]

1. Rapine; rapacity. Ray.

2. Prey; plunder; food obtained by violence.

RAVEN Rav"en, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ravened; p. pr. & vb. n. Ravening.] Etym: [Written also ravin, and ravine.]

1. To obtain or seize by violence. Hakewill.

2. To devoir with great eagerness. Like rats that ravin down their proper bane. Shak.

RAVEN Rav"en, v. i.

Defn: To prey with rapacity; to be greedy; to show rapacity. [Written also ravin, and ravine.] Benjamin shall raven as a wolf. Gen. xlix. 27.

RAVENALA Rav`e*na"la, n. Etym: [Malagasy.] (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of plants related to the banana.

Note: Ravenala Madagascariensis, the principal species, is an unbranched tree with immense oarlike leaves growing alternately from two sides of the stem. The sheathing bases of the leafstalks collect and retain rain water, which flows freely when they are pierced with a knife, whence the plant is called traveller's tree.

RAVENER Rav"en*er, n.

1. One who, or that which, ravens or plunders. Gower.

2. A bird of prey, as the owl or vulture. [Obs.] Holland.

RAVENING Rav"en*ing, n.

Defn: Eagerness for plunder; rapacity; extortion. Luke xi. 39.

RAVENING Rav"en*ing, a.

Defn: Greedily devouring; rapacious; as, ravening wolves. — Rav"en*ing*ly, adv.

RAVENOUS Rav"en*ous, a. Etym: [From 2d Raven.]

1. Devouring with rapacious eagerness; furiously voracious; hungry even to rage; as, a ravenous wolf or vulture.

2. Eager for prey or gratification; as, a ravenous appetite or desire. — Rav"en*ous*ly, adv. — Rav"en*ous*ness, n.

RAVEN'S-DUCK Ra"ven's-duck`, n. Etym: [Cf. G. ravenstuch.]

Defn: A fine quality of sailcloth. Ham. Nav. Encyc.

RAVER Rav"er, n.

Defn: One who raves.

RAVIN Rav"in, n.

Defn: Ravenous. [Obs.] Shak.

RAVIN; RAVINE Rav"in, Ravine, n. Etym: [See 2d Raven.]

Defn: Food obtained by violence; plunder; prey; raven. "Fowls of ravyne." Chaucer. Though Nature, red in tooth and claw With ravine, shrieked against his creed. Tennyson.

RAVIN; RAVINE Rav"in, Rav"ine, v. t. & i.

Defn: See Raven, v. t. & i.

RAVINE Ra*vine", n. Etym: [F., a place excavated by a torrent, a ravine, fr. ravir to snatch or tear away, L. rapere; cf. L. rapina rapine. See Ravish, and cf. Rapine, Raven prey.]

1. A torrent of water. [Obs.] Cotgrave.

2. A deep and narrow hollow, usually worn by a stream or torrent of water; a gorge; a mountain cleft.

RAVING Rav"ing, a.

Defn: Talking irrationally and wildly; as, a raving lunatic. — Rav"ing*ly, adv.

RAVISH Rav"ish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ravished; p. pr. & vb. n. Ravishing.] Etym: [OE. ravissen, F. ravir, fr. L. rapere to snatch or tear away, to ravish. See Rapacious, Rapid, and -ish.]

1. To seize and carry away by violence; to snatch by force. These hairs which thou dost ravish from my chin Will quicken, and accuse thee. Shak. This hand shall ravish thy pretended right. Dryden.

2. To transport with joy or delight; to delight to ecstasy. "Ravished . . . for the joy." Chaucer. Thou hast ravished my heart. Cant. iv. 9.

3. To have carnal knowledge of (a woman) by force, and against her consent; to rape. Shak.

Syn. — To transport; entrance; enrapture; delight; violate; deflour; force.

RAVISHER Rav"ish*er, n.

Defn: One who ravishes (in any sense).

RAVISHING Rav"ish*ing, a.

Defn: Rapturous; transporting.

RAVISHINGLY Rav"ish*ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a ravishing manner.

RAVISHMENT Rav"ish*ment, n. Etym: [F. ravissement. See Ravish.]

1. The act of carrying away by force or against consent; abduction; as, the ravishment of children from their parents, or a ward from his guardian, or of a wife from her husband. Blackstone.

2. The state of being ravished; rapture; transport of delight; ecstasy. Spencer. In whose sight all things joy, with ravishment Attracted by thy beauty still to gaze. Milton.

3. The act of ravishing a woman; rape.

RAVISSANT Rav"is*sant, a. Etym: [F.] (Her.)

Defn: In a half-raised position, as if about to spring on prey.

RAW Raw, a. [Compar Rawer; superl. Rawest.] Etym: [AS. hreáw; akin to D. raauw, LG. rau, G. roh, OHG. ro, Icel. hrar, Dan. raa, Sw. rå, L. crudus, Gr. kre`as flesh, Skr. kravis raw flesh. sq. root18. Cf. Crude, Cruel.]

1. Not altered from its natural state; not prepared by the action of heat; as, raw sienna; specifically, not cooked; not changed by heat to a state suitable for eating; not done; as, raw meat.

2. Hence: Unprepared for use or enjoyment; immature; unripe; unseasoned; inexperienced; unpracticed; untried; as, raw soldiers; a raw recruit. Approved himself to the raw judgment of the multitude. De Quincey.

3. Not worked in due form; in the natural state; untouched by art; unwrought. Specifically: (a) Not distilled; as, raw water. [Obs.] Bacon. (b) Not spun or twisted; as, raw silk or cotton. (c) Not mixed or diluted; as, raw spirits. (d) Not tried; not melted and strained; as, raw tallow. (e) Not tanned; as, raw hides. (f) Not trimmed, covered, or folded under; as, the raw edge of a piece of metal or of cloth.

4. Not covered; bare. Specifically: (a) Bald. [Obs.] "With scull all raw." Spencer (b) Deprived of skin; galled; as, a raw sore. (c) Sore, as if by being galled. And all his sinews waxen weak and raw Through long imprisonment. Spenser.

5. Disagreeably damp or cold; chilly; as, a raw wind. "A raw and gusty day." Shak. Raw material, material that has not been subjected to a (specified) process of manufacture; as, ore is the raw material used in smelting; leather is the raw material of the shoe industry. — Raw pig, cast iron as it comes from the smelting furnace.

RAW Raw, n.

Defn: A raw, sore, or galled place; a sensitive spot; as, to touch one on the raw. Like savage hackney coachmen, they know where there is a raw. De Quincey.

RAWBONE Raw"bone`, a.

Defn: Rawboned. [Obs.] Spencer.

RAWBONED Raw"boned`, a.

Defn: Having little flesh on the bones; gaunt. Shak.

RAWHEAD Raw"head`, n.

Defn: A specter mentioned to frighten children; as, rawhead and bloodybones.

RAWHIDE Raw"hide`, n.

Defn: A cowhide, or coarse riding whip, made of untanned (or raw) hide twisted.

RAWISH Raw"ish, a.

Defn: Somewhat raw. [R.] Marston.

RAWLY Raw"ly, adv.

1. In a raw manner; unskillfully; without experience.

2. Without proper preparation or provision. Shak.

RAWNESS Raw"ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being raw.

RAY Ray, v. t. Etym: [An aphetic form of array; cf. Beray.]

1. To array. [Obs.] Sir T. More.

2. To mark, stain, or soil; to streak; to defile. [Obs.] "The fifth that did it ray." Spenser.

RAY Ray, n.

Defn: Array; order; arrangement; dress. [Obs.] And spoiling all her gears and goodly ray. Spenser.

RAY Ray, n. Etym: [OF. rai, F. rais, fr. L. radius a beam or ray, staff, rod, spoke of a wheel. Cf. Radius.]

1. One of a number of lines or parts diverging from a common point or center, like the radii of a circle; as, a star of six rays.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: A radiating part of the flower or plant; the marginal florets of a compound flower, as an aster or a sunflower; one of the pedicels of an umbel or other circular flower cluster; radius. See Radius.

3. (Zoöl.) (a) One of the radiating spines, or cartilages, supporting the fins of fishes. (b) One of the spheromeres of a radiate, especially one of the arms of a starfish or an ophiuran.

4. (Physics) (a) A line of light or heat proceeding from a radiant or reflecting point; a single element of light or heat propagated continuously; as, a solar ray; a polarized ray. (b) One of the component elements of the total radiation from a body; any definite or limited portion of the spectrum; as, the red ray; the violet ray. See Illust. under Light.

5. Sight; perception; vision; — from an old theory of vision, that sight was something which proceeded from the eye to the object seen. All eyes direct their rays On him, and crowds turn coxcombs as they gaze. Pope.

6. (Geom.)

Defn: One of a system of diverging lines passing through a point, and regarded as extending indefinitely in both directions. See Half-ray. Bundle of rays. (Geom.) See Pencil of rays, below. — Extraordinary ray (Opt.), that one or two parts of a ray divided by double refraction which does not follow the ordinary law of refraction. — Ordinary ray (Opt.) that one of the two parts of a ray divided by double refraction which follows the usual or ordinary law of refraction. — Pencil of rays (Geom.), a definite system of rays. — Ray flower, or Ray floret (Bot.), one of the marginal flowers of the capitulum in such composite plants as the aster, goldenrod, daisy, and sunflower. They have an elongated, strap-shaped corolla, while the corollas of the disk flowers are tubular and five-lobed. — Ray point (Geom.), the common point of a pencil of rays. — Röntgen ray ( (Phys.), a kind of ray generated in a very highly exhausted vacuum tube by the electrical discharge. It is capable of passing through many bodies opaque to light, and producing photographic and fluorescent effects by which means pictures showing the internal structure of opaque objects are made, called radiographs, or sciagraphs. So called from the discoverer, W. C. Röntgen. — X ray, the Röntgen ray; — so called by its discoverer because of its enigmatical character, x being an algebraic symbol for an unknown quantity.

RAY Ray, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rayed; p. pr. & vb. n. Raying.] Etym: [Cf. OF. raier, raiier, rayer, L. radiare to irradiate. See Ray, n., and cf. Radiate.]

1. To mark with long lines; to streak. [Obs.] Chaucer.

2. Etym: [From Ray, n.]

Defn: To send forth or shoot out; to cause to shine out; as, to ray smiles. [R.] Thompson.

RAY Ray, v. t.

Defn: To shine, as with rays. Mrs. Browning.

RAY Ray, n. Etym: [F. raie, L. raia. Cf. Roach.] (Zoöl.) (a) Any one of numerous elasmobranch fishes of the order Raiæ, including the skates, torpedoes, sawfishes, etc. (b) In a restricted sense, any of the broad, flat, narrow-tailed species, as the skates and sting rays. See Skate. Bishop ray, a yellow-spotted, long-tailed eagle ray (Stoasodon nàrinari) of the Southern United States and the West Indies. — Butterfly ray, a short-tailed American sting ray (Pteroplatea Maclura), having very broad pectoral fins. — Devil ray. See Sea Devil. — Eagle ray, any large ray of the family Myliobatidæ, or Ætobatidæ. The common European species (Myliobatis aquila) is called also whip ray, and miller. — Electric ray, or Cramp ray, a torpedo. — Starry ray, a common European skate (Raia radiata). — Sting ray, any one of numerous species of rays of the family Trygonidæ having one or more large, sharp, barbed dorsal spines on the whiplike tail. Called also stingaree.

RAYAH Ra"yah, n. Etym: [Ar. ra'iyah a herd, a subject, fr. ra'a to pasture, guard.]

Defn: A person not a Mohammedan, who pays the capitation tax. [Turkey.]

RAY GRASS Ray" grass` Etym: [Etymol. of ray is uncertain.] (Bot.)

Defn: A perennial European grass (Lolium perenne); — called also rye grass, and red darnel. See Darnel, and Grass. Italian ray, or rye, grass. See Darnel, and Grass.

RAYLESS Ray"less, a.

Defn: Destitute of rays; hence, dark; not illuminated; blind; as, a rayless sky; rayless eyes.

RAYON Ray"on, n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: Ray; beam. [Obs.] Spenser.

RAYONNANT Ray"on*nant, a. Etym: [F.] (Her.)

Defn: Darting forth rays, as the sun when it shines out.

RAZE Raze, n. Etym: [See Rack.]

Defn: A Shakespearean word (used once) supposed to mean the same as race, a root.

RAZE Raze, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Razed; p. pr. & vb. n. Razing.] Etym: [F. raser. See Rase, v. t.] [Written also rase.]

1. To erase; to efface; to obliterate. Razing the characters of your renown. Shak.

2. To subvert from the foundation; to lay level with the ground; to destroy; to demolish. The royal hand that razed unhappy Troy. Dryden.

Syn. — To demolish; level; prostrate; overthrow; subvert; destroy; ruin. See Demolish.

RAZED Razed, a.

Defn: Slashed or striped in patterns. [Obs.] "Two Provincial roses on my razed shoes." Shak.

RAZEE Ra*zee", n. Etym: [F. vaisseau rasé, fr. raser to rase, to cut down ships. See Raze, v. t., Rase, v. t.] (Naut.)

Defn: An armed ship having her upper deck cut away, and thus reduced to the next inferior rate, as a seventy-four cut down to a frigate. Totten.

RAZEE Ra*zee", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Razeed; p. pr. & vb. n. Razeeing.]

Defn: To cut down to a less number of decks, and thus to an inferior rate or glass, as a ship; hence, to prune or abridge by cutting off or retrenching parts; as, to razee a book, or an article.

RAZOR Ra"zor, n. Etym: [OE. rasour, OF. rasur, LL. rasor: cf. F. rasoir, LL. rasorium. See Raze, v. t., Rase, v. t.]

1. A keen-edged knife of peculiar shape, used in shaving the hair from the face or the head. "Take thee a barber's rasor." Ezek. v. 1.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A task of a wild boar. Razor fish. (Zoöl.) (a) A small Mediterranean fish (Coryphæna novacula), prized for the table. (b) The razor shell. — Razor grass (Bot.), a West Indian plant (Scleria scindens), the triangular stem and the leaves of which are edged with minute sharp teeth. — Razor grinder (Zoöl.), the European goat-sucker. — Razor shell (Zoöl.), any marine bivalve shell belonging to Solen and allied genera, especially Solen, or Ensatella, ensis, and Americana, which have a long, narrow, somewhat curved shell, resembling a razor handle in shape. Called also rasor clam, razor fish, knife handle. — Razor stone. Same as Novaculite. — Razor strap, or razor strop, a strap or strop used in sharpening razors.

RAZORABLE Ra"zor*a*ble, a.

Defn: Ready for the razor; fit to be shaved. [R.] Shak.

RAZORBACK Ra"zor*back", n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The rorqual.

RAZOR-BACKED Ra"zor-backed", a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having a sharp, lean, or thin back; as, a razor-backed hog, perch, etc.

RAZORBILL Ra"zor*bill, n. (Zoöl.) (a) A species of auk (Alca torda) common in the Arctic seas. See Auk, and Illust. in Appendix. (b) See Cutwater, 3.

RAZURE Ra"zure, n. Etym: [See Rasure.]

1. The act of erasing or effacing, or the state of being effaced; obliteration. See Rasure.

2. An erasure; a change made by erasing.

RAZZIA Raz"zi*a, n. Etym: [F., fr. Ar. ghazia (pron. razia in Algeria).]

Defn: A plundering and destructive incursion; a foray; a rai

RE- Re-. Etym: [L. re-, older form (retained before vowels) red-: cf. F. re-, ré-.]

Defn: A prefix signifying back, against, again, anew; as, recline, to lean back; recall, to call back; recede; remove; reclaim, to call out against; repugn, to fight against; recognition, a knowing again; rejoin, to join again; reiterate, reassure. Combinations containing the prefix re- are readily formed, and are for the most part of obvious signification.

RE Re (ra). Etym: [It.] (Mus.)

Defn: A syllable applied in solmization to the second tone of the diatonic scale of C; in the American system, to the second tone of any diatonic scale.

REABSORB Re`ab*sorb", v. t.

Defn: To absorb again; to draw in, or imbibe, again what has been effused, extravasated, or thrown off; to swallow up again; as, to reabsorb chyle, lymph, etc.; — used esp. of fluids.

REABSORPTION Re`ab*sorp"tion, n.

Defn: The act or process of rearbsorbing.

REACCESS Re`ac*cess", n.

Defn: A second access or approach; a return. Hakewill.

REACCUSE Re"ac*cuse", v. t.

Defn: To accuse again. Cheyne.

REACH Reach, n.

Defn: An effort to vomit. [R.]

REACH Reach, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Reached (Raught, the old preterit, is obsolete); p. pr. & vb. n. Reaching.] Etym: [OE. rechen, AS. ræcan, ræcean, to extend, stretch out; akin to D. reiken, G. reichen, and possibly to AS. rice powerful, rich, E. rich. sq. root115.]

1. To extend; to stretch; to thrust out; to put forth, as a limb, a member, something held, or the like. Her tresses yellow, and long straughten, Unto her heeles down they raughten. Rom. of R. Reach hither thy hand and thrust it into my side. John xx. 27. Fruit trees, over woody, reached too far Their pampered boughs. Milton.

2. Hence, to deliver by stretching out a member, especially the hand; to give with the hand; to pass to another; to hand over; as, to reach one a book. He reached me a full cap. 2 Esd. xiv. 39.

3. To attain or obtain by stretching forth the hand; too extend some part of the body, or something held by one, so as to touch, strike, grasp, or the like; as, to reach an object with the hand, or with a spear. O patron power, . . . thy present aid afford, Than I may reach the beast. Dryden.

4. To strike, hit, or tough with a missile; as, to reach an object with an arrow, a bullet, or a shell.

5. Hence, to extend an action, effort, or influence to; to penetrate to; to pierce, or cut, as far as. If these examples of grown men reach not the case of children, let them examine. Locke.

6. To extend to; to stretch out as far as; to touch by virtue of extent; as, his hand reaches the river. Thy desire . . . leads to no excess That reaches blame. Milton.

7. To arrive at by effort of any kind; to attain to; to gain; to be advanced to. The best account of the appearances of nature which human penetration can reach, comes short of its reality. Cheyne.

9. To understand; to comprehend. [Obs.] Do what, sir I reach you not. Beau. & Fl.

10. To overreach; to deceive. [Obs.] South.

REACH Reach, v. t.

1. To stretch out the hand. Goddess humane, reach, then, and freely taste! Milton.

2. To strain after something; to make efforts. Reaching above our nature does no good. Dryden.

3. To extend in dimension, time, amount, action, influence, etc., so as to touch, attain to, or be equal to, something. And behold, a ladder set upon the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. Gen. xxviii. 12. The new world reaches quite across the torrid zone. Boyle.

4. (Naut.)

Defn: To sail on the wind, as from one point of tacking to another, or with the ind nearly abeam. To reach after or at, to make efforts to attain to or obtain. He would be in the mind reaching after a positive idea of infinity. Locke.

REACH Reach, n.

1. The act of stretching or extending; extension; power of reaching or touching with the person, or a limb, or something held or thrown; as, the fruit is beyond my reach; to be within reach of cannon shot.

2. The power of stretching out or extending action, influence, or the like; power of attainment or management; extent of force or capacity. Drawn by others who had deeper reaches than themselves to matters which they least intended. Hayward. Be sure yourself and your own reach to know. Pope.

3. Extent; stretch; expanse; hence, application; influence; result; scope. And on the left hand, hell, With long reach, interposed. Milton. I am to pray you not to strain my speech To grosser issues, nor to larger reach Than to suspicion. Shak.

4. An extended portion of land or water; a stretch; a straight portion of a stream or river, as from one turn to another; a level stretch, as between locks in a canal; an arm of the sea extending up into the land. "The river's wooded reach." Tennyson. The coast . . . is very full of creeks and reaches. Holland.

5. An article to obtain an advantage. The Duke of Parma had particular reaches and ends of his own underhand to cross the design. Bacon.

6. The pole or rod which connects the hind axle with the forward bolster of a wagon.

REACHABLE Reach"a*ble, a.

Defn: Being within reach.

REACHER Reach"er, n.

1. One who reaches.

2. An exaggeration. [Obs.] Fuller.

REACHLESS Reach"less, a.

Defn: Being beyond reach; lofty. Unto a reachless pitch of praises hight. Bp. Hall.

REACT Re*act", v. t.

Defn: To act or perform a second time; to do over again; as, to react a play; the same scenes were reacted at Rome.

REACT Re*act", v. i.

1. To return an impulse or impression; to resist the action of another body by an opposite force; as, every body reacts on the body that impels it from its natural state.

2. To act upon each other; to exercise a reciprocal or a reverse effect, as two or more chemical agents; to act in opposition.

REACTANCE Re*act"ance, n. [React + -ance.] (Elec.)

Defn: The influence of a coil of wire upon an alternating current passing through it, tending to choke or diminish the current, or the similar influence of a condenser; inductive resistance. Reactance is measured in ohms. The reactance of a circuit is equal to the component of the impressed electro-motive force at right angles to the current divided by the current, that is, the component of the impedance due to the self-inductance or capacity of the circuit.

REACTANCE COIL Reactance coil (Elec.)

Defn: A choking coil.

REACTION Re*ac"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. réaction.]

1. Any action in resisting other action or force; counter tendency; movement in a contrary direction; reverse action.

2. (Chem.)

Defn: The mutual or reciprocal action of chemical agents upon each other, or the action upon such chemical agents of some form of energy, as heat, light, or electricity, resulting in a chemical change in one or more of these agents, with the production of new compounds or the manifestation of distinctive characters. See Blowpipe reaction, Flame reaction, under Blowpipe, and Flame.

3. (Med.)

Defn: An action included by vital resistance to some other action; depression or exhaustion of vital force consequent on overexertion or overstimulation; heightened activity and overaction succeeding depression or shock.

4. (Mech.)

Defn: The force which a body subjected to the action of a force from another body exerts upon the latter body in the opposite direction. Reaction is always equal and opposite to action, that is to say, the actions of two bodies upon each other are always equal and in opposite directions. Sir I. Newton (3d Law of Motion).

5. (Politics)

Defn: Backward tendency or movement after revolution, reform, or great progress in any direction. The new king had, at the very moment at which his fame and fortune reached the highest point, predicted the coming reaction. Macaulay. Reaction time (Physiol.), in nerve physiology, the interval between the application of a stimulus to an end organ of sense and the reaction or resulting movement; — called also physiological time. — Reaction wheel (Mech.), a water wheel driven by the reaction of water, usually one in which the water, entering it centrally, escapes at its periphery in a direction opposed to that of its motion by orifices at right angles, or inclined, to its radii.

REACTIONARY Re*ac"tion*a*ry, a.

Defn: Being, causing, or favoring reaction; as, reactionary movements.

REACTIONARY Re*ac"tion*a*ry, n.; pl. Reactionaries (.

Defn: One who favors reaction, or seeks to undo political progress or revolution.

REACTIONIST Re*ac"tion*ist, n.

Defn: A reactionary. C. Kingsley.

REACTIVE Re*act`ive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. réactif.]

Defn: Having power to react; tending to reaction; of the nature of reaction. — Re*act"ive*ly, adv. — Re*act"ive*ness, n.

REACTOR Re*act"or, n. (Elec.)

Defn: A choking coil.

READ Read, n.

Defn: Rennet. See 3d Reed. [Prov. Eng.]

READ Read, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Read; p. pr. & vb. n. Reading.] Etym: [OE. reden, ræden, AS. rædan to read, advice, counsel, fr. ræd advise, counsel, rædan (imperf. reord) to advice, counsel, guess; akin to D. raden to advise, G. raten, rathen, Icel. raedha, Goth. redan (in comp.), and perh. also to Skr. radh to succeed. sq. root116. Cf. Riddle.]

1. To advise; to counsel. [Obs.] See Rede. Therefore, I read thee, get to God's word, and thereby try all doctrine. Tyndale.

2. To interpret; to explain; as, to read a riddle.

3. To tell; to declare; to recite. [Obs.] But read how art thou named, and of what kin. Spenser.

4. To go over, as characters or words, and utter aloud, or recite to one's self inaudibly; to take in the sense of, as of language, by interpreting the characters with which it is expressed; to peruse; as, to read a discourse; to read the letters of an alphabet; to read figures; to read the notes of music, or to read music; to read a book. Redeth [read ye] the great poet of Itaille. Chaucer. Well could he rede a lesson or a story. Chaucer.

5. Hence, to know fully; to comprehend. Who is't can read a woman Shak.

6. To discover or understand by characters, marks, features, etc.; to learn by observation. An armed corse did lie, In whose dead face he read great magnanimity. Spenser. Those about her From her shall read the perfect ways of honor. Shak.

7. To make a special study of, as by perusing textbooks; as, to read theology or law. To read one's self in, to read about the Thirty-nine Articles and the Declaration of Assent, — required of a clergyman of the Church of England when he first officiates in a new benefice.

READ Read, v. t.

1. To give advice or counsel. [Obs.]

2. To tell; to declare. [Obs.] Spenser.

3. To perform the act of reading; to peruse, or to go over and utter aloud, the words of a book or other like document. So they read in the book of the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense. Neh. viii. 8.

4. To study by reading; as, he read for the bar.

5. To learn by reading. I have read of an Eastern king who put a judge to death for an iniquitous sentence. Swift.

6. To appear in writing or print; to be expressed by, or consist of, certain words or characters; as, the passage reads thus in the early manuscripts.

7. To produce a certain effect when read; as, that sentence reads queerly. To read between the lines, to infer something different from what is plainly indicated; to detect the real meaning as distinguished from the apparent meaning.

READ Read, n. Etym: [AS. ræd counsel, fr. rædan to counsel. See Read, v. t.]

1. Saying; sentence; maxim; hence, word; advice; counsel. See Rede. [Obs.]

2. Etym: [Read, v.]

Defn: Reading. [Colloq.] Hume. One newswoman here lets magazines for a penny a read. Furnivall.

READ Read,

Defn: imp. & p. p. of Read, v. t. & i.

READ Read, a.

Defn: Instructed or knowing by reading; versed in books; learned. A poet . . . well read in Longinus. Addison.

READABILITY Read`a*bil"i*ty, n.

Defn: The state of being readable; readableness.

READABLE Read"a*ble, a.

Defn: Such as can be read; legible; fit or suitable to be read; worth reading; interesting. — Read"a*ble*ness, n. — Read"a*bly, adv,.

READDRESS Re`ad*dress", v. t.

Defn: To address a second time; — often used reflexively. He readdressed himself to her. Boyle.

READEPT Re`a*dept, v. t. Etym: [Pref. re- + L. adeptus. p. p. of adipisci to obtain.]

Defn: To regain; to recover. [Obs.]

READEPTION Re`a*dep"tion, n.

Defn: A regaining; recovery of something lost. [Obs.] Bacon.

READER Read"er, n. Etym: [AS. rædere.]

1. One who reads. Specifically: (a) One whose distinctive office is to read prayers in a church. (b) (University of Oxford, Eng.) One who reads lectures on scientific subjects. Lyell. (c) A proof reader. (d) One who reads manuscripts offered for publication and advises regarding their merit.

2. One who reads much; one who is studious.

3. A book containing a selection of extracts for exercises in reading; an elementary book for practice in a language; a reading book.

READERSHIP Read"er*ship, n.

Defn: The office of reader. Lyell.

READILY Read"i*ly, adv.

1. In a ready manner; quickly; promptly. Chaucer.

2. Without delay or objection; without reluctance; willingly; cheerfully. How readily we wish time spent revoked! Cowper.

READINESS Read"i*ness, n.

Defn: The state or quality of being ready; preparation; promptness; aptitude; willingness. They received the word with all readiness of mind. Acts xvii. 11.

Syn. — Facility; quickness; expedition; promptitude; promptness; aptitude; aptness; knack; skill; expertness; dexterity; ease; cheerfulness. See Facility.

READING Read"ing, n.

1. The act of one who reads; perusal; also, printed or written matter to be read.

2. Study of books; literary scholarship; as, a man of extensive reading.

3. A lecture or prelection; public recital. The Jews had their weekly readings of the law. Hooker.

4. The way in which anything reads; force of a word or passage presented by a documentary authority; lection; version.

5. Manner of reciting, or acting a part, on the stage; way of rendering. [Cant]

6. An observation read from the scale of a graduated instrument; as, the reading of a barometer. Reading of a bill (Legislation), its normal recital, by the proper officer, before the House which is to consider it.

READING Read"ing, a.

1. Of or pertaining to the act of reading; used in reading.

2. Addicted to reading; as, a reading community. Reading book, a book for teaching reading; a reader. — Reading desk, a desk to support a book while reading; esp., a desk used while reading the service in a church. — Reading glass, a large lens with more or less magnifying power, attached to a handle, and used in reading, etc. — Reading man, one who reads much; hence, in the English universities, a close, industrious student. — Reading room, a room appropriated to reading; a room provided with papers, periodicals, and the like, to which persons resort.

READJOURN Re`ad*journ", v. t.

Defn: To adjourn a second time; to adjourn again.

READJOURNMENT Re`ad*journ"ment, n.

Defn: The act of readjourning; a second or repeated adjournment.

READJUST Re`ad*just", v. t.

Defn: To adjust or settle again; to put in a different order or relation; to rearrange.

READJUSTER Re`ad*just"er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, readjusts; in some of the States of the United States, one who advocates a refunding, and sometimes a partial repudiation, of the State debt without the consent of the State's creditors.

READJUSTMENT Re`ad*just"ment, n.

Defn: A second adjustment; a new or different adjustment.

READMISSION Re`ad*mis"sion, n.

Defn: The act of admitting again, or the state of being readmitted; as, the readmission fresh air into an exhausted receiver; the readmission of a student into a seminary.

READMIT Re`ad*mit", v. t.

Defn: To admit again; to give entrance or access to again. Whose ear is ever open, and his eye Gracious to readmit the suppliant. Milton.

READMITTANCE Re`ad*mit"tance, n.

Defn: Allowance to enter again; a second admission.

READOPT Re`a*dopt", v. t.

Defn: To adopt again. Young.

READORN Re`a*dorn", v. t.

Defn: To adorn again or anew.

READVANCE Re`ad*vance", v. i.

Defn: To advance again.

READVERTENCY Re`ad*vert"en*cy, n.

Defn: The act of adverting to again, or of reviewing. [R.] Norris.

READY Read"y, a. [Compar. Readier; superl. Readiest.] Etym: [AS. ræde; akin to D. gereed, bereid, G. bereit, Goth. garáids fixed, arranged, and possibly to E. ride, as meaning originally, prepared for riding. Cf. Array, 1st Curry.]

1. Prepared for what one is about to do or experience; equipped or supplied with what is needed for some act or event; prepared for immediate movement or action; as, the troops are ready to march; ready for the journey. "When she redy was." Chaucer.

2. Fitted or arranged for immediate use; causing no delay for lack of being prepared or furnished. "Dinner was ready." Fielding. My oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. Matt. xxii. 4.

3. Prepared in mind or disposition; not reluctant; willing; free; inclined; disposed. I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem, for the name of the Lord Jesus. Acts xxi. 13. If need be, I am ready to forego And quit. Milton.

4. Not slow or hesitating; quick in action or perception of any kind; dexterous; prompt; easy; expert; as, a ready apprehension; ready wit; a ready writer or workman. "Ready in devising expedients." Macaulay. Gurth, whose temper was ready, through surly. Sir W. Scott.

5. Offering itself at once; at hand; opportune; convenient; near; easy. "The readiest way." Milton. A sapling pine he wrenched from out the ground, The readiest weapon that his fury found. Dryden.

6. On the point; about; on the brink; near; — with a following infinitive. My heart is ready to crack. Shak.

7. (Mil.)

Defn: A word of command, or a position, in the manual of arms, at which the piece is cocked and held in position to execute promptly the next command, which is, aim. All ready, ready in every particular; wholly equipped or prepared. "[I] am all redy at your hest." Chaucer. — Ready money, means of immediate payment; cash. "'Tis all the ready money fate can give." Cowley. — Ready reckoner, a book of tables for facilitating computations, as of interest, prices, etc. — To make ready, to make preparation; to get in readiness.

Syn. — Prompt; expeditious; speedy; unhesitating; dexterous; apt; skilful; handy; expert; facile; easy; opportune; fitted; prepared; disposed; willing; free; cheerful. See Prompt.

READY Read"y, adv.

Defn: In a state of preparation for immediate action; so as to need no delay. We ourselves will go ready armed. Num. xxxii. 17.

READY Read"y, n.

Defn: Ready money; cash; — commonly with the; as, he was supplied with the ready. [Slang] Lord Strut was not flush in ready, either to go to law, or to clear old debts. Arbuthnot.

READY Read"y, v. t.

Defn: To dispose in order. [Obs.] Heywood.

READY-MADE Read"y-made`, a.

Defn: Made already, or beforehand, in anticipation of need; not made to order; as, ready-made clothing; ready-made jokes.

READY-WITTED Read"y-wit`ted, a.

Defn: Having ready wit.

REAFFIRM Re`af*firm", v. t.

Defn: To affirm again.

REAFFIRMANCE; REAFFIRMATION Re`af*firm"ance, Re*af`fir*ma"tion n.

Defn: A second affirmation.

REAFFOREST Re`af*for"est, v. t.

Defn: To convert again into the forest, as a region of country.

REAFFORESTATION Re`af*for`es*ta"tion, n.

Defn: The act or process of converting again into a forest.

REAGENT Re*a"gent, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A substance capable of producing with another a reaction, especially when employed to detect the presence of other bodies; a test.

REAGGRAVATION Re*ag`gra*va"tion, n. (R. C. Ch.)

Defn: The last monitory, published after three admonitions and before the last excommunication.

REAGREE Re`a*gree", v. t.

Defn: To agree again.

REAK Reak, n. [Wrack seaweed.]

Defn: A rush. [Obs.] "Feeds on reaks and reeds." Drant.

REAK Reak, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel. hrekkr, or E. wreak vengeance.]

Defn: A prank. [Obs.] "They play such reaks." Beau & Fl.

REAL Re"al, n. Etym: [Sp., fr. real royal, L. regalis. See Regal, and cf. Ree a coin.]

Defn: A small Spanish silver coin; also, a denomination of money of account, formerly the unit of the Spanish monetary system.

Note: A real of plate (coin) varied in value according to the time of its coinage, from 12real vellon, or money of account, was nearly equal to five cents, or 2

REAL Re*al", a.

Defn: Royal; regal; kingly. [Obs.] "The blood real of Thebes." Chaucer.

REAL Re"al, a. Etym: [LL. realis, fr. L. res, rei, a thing: cf. F. réel. Cf. Rebus.]

1. Actually being or existing; not fictitious or imaginary; as, a description of real life. Whereat I waked, and found Before mine eyes all real, as the dream Had lively shadowed. Milton.

2. True; genuine; not artificial; counterfeit, or factitious; often opposed to ostensible; as, the real reason; real Madeira wine; real ginger. Whose perfection far excelled Hers in all real dignity. Milton.

5. Relating to things, not to persons. [Obs.] Many are perfect in men's humors that are not greatly capable of the real part of business. Bacon.

4. (Alg.)

Defn: Having an assignable arithmetical or numerical value or meaning; not imaginary.

5. (Law)

Defn: Pertaining to things fixed, permanent, or immovable, as to lands and tenements; as, real property, in distinction from personal or movable property. Chattels real (Law), such chattels as are annexed to, or savor of, the realty, as terms for years of land. See Chattel. — Real action (Law), an action for the recovery of real property. — Real assets (Law), lands or real estate in the hands of the heir, chargeable with the debts of the ancestor. — Real composition (Eccl. Law), an agreement made between the owner of lands and the parson or vicar, with consent of the ordinary, that such lands shall be discharged from payment of tithes, in consequence of other land or recompense given to the parson in lieu and satisfaction thereof. Blackstone. — Real estate or property, lands, tenements, and hereditaments; freehold interests in landed property; property in houses and land. Kent. Burrill. — Real presence (R. C. Ch.), the actual presence of the body and blood of Christ in the eucharist, or the conversion of the substance of the bread and wine into the real body and blood of Christ; transubstantiation. In other churches there is a belief in a form of real presence, not however in the sense of transubstantiation. — Real servitude, called also Predial servitude (Civil Law), a burden imposed upon one estate in favor of another estate of another proprietor. Erskine. Bouvier.

Syn. — Actual; true; genuine; authentic. — Real, Actual. Real represents a thing to be a substantive existence; as, a real, not imaginary, occurrence. Actual refers to it as acted or performed; and, hence, when we wish to prove a thing real, we often say, "It actually exists," "It has actually been done." Thus its really is shown by its actually. Actual, from this reference to being acted, has recently received a new signification, namely, present; as, the actual posture of affairs; since what is now in action, or going on, has, of course, a present existence. An actual fact; a real sentiment. For he that but conceives a crime in thought, Contracts the danger of an actual fault. Dryden. Our simple ideas are all real; all agree to the reality of things. Locke.

REAL Re"al, n.

Defn: A realist. [Obs.] Burton.

REALGAR Re*al"gar, n. Etym: [F. réalgar, Sp. rejalgar, Ar. rahj al ghar powder of the mine.] (Min.)

Defn: Arsenic sulphide, a mineral of a brilliant red color; red orpiment. It is also an artificial product.

REALISM Re"al*ism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. réalisme.]

1. (Philos.) (a) An opposed to nominalism, the doctrine that genera and species are real things or entities, existing independently of our conceptions. According to realism the Universal exists ante rem (Plato), or in re (Aristotle). (b) As opposed to idealism, the doctrine that in sense perception there is an immediate cognition of the external object, and our knowledge of it is not mediate and representative.

2. (Art & Lit.)

Defn: Fidelity to nature or to real life; representation without idealization, and making no appeal to the imagination; adherence to the actual fact.

REALIST Re"al*ist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. réaliste.]

1. (Philos.)

Defn: One who believes in realism; esp., one who maintains that generals, or the terms used to denote the genera and species of things, represent real existences, and are not mere names, as maintained by the nominalists.

2. (Art. & Lit.)

Defn: An artist or writer who aims at realism in his work. See Realism, 2.

REALISTIC Re`al*is"tic, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the realists; in the manner of the realists; characterized by realism rather than by imagination.

REALISTICALLY Re`al*is"tic*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In the realistic manner.

REALITY Re*al"i*ty, n.; pl. Realities. Etym: [Cf. F. réalité, LL. realitas. See 3d Real. and cf. 2d Realty.]

1. The state or quality of being real; actual being or existence of anything, in distinction from mere appearance; fact. A man fancies that he understands a critic, when in reality he does not comprehend his meaning. Addison.

2. That which is real; an actual existence; that which is not imagination, fiction, or pretense; that which has objective existence, and is not merely an idea. And to realities yield all her shows. Milton. My neck may be an idea to you, but it is reality to me. Beattie.

3. Etym: [See 1st Realty, 2.]

Defn: Loyalty; devotion. [Obs.] To express our reality to the emperor. Fuller.

4. (Law)

Defn: See 2d Realty, 2.

REALIZABLE Re"al*i`za*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being realized.

REALIZATION Re`al*i*za"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. réalisation.]

Defn: The act of realizing, or the state of being realized.

REALIZE Re"al*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Realized; p. pr. & vb. n. Realizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. réaliser.]

1. To make real; to convert from the imaginary or fictitious into the actual; to bring into concrete existence; to accomplish; as, to realize a scheme or project. We realize what Archimedes had only in hypothesis, weighting a single grain against the globe of earth. Glanvill.

2. To cause to seem real; to impress upon the mind as actual; to feel vividly or strongly; to make one's own in apprehension or experience. Many coincidences . . . soon begin to appear in them [Greek inscriptions] which realize ancient history to us. Jowett. We can not realize it in thought, that the object . . . had really no being at any past moment. Sir W. Hamilton.

3. To convert into real property; to make real estate of; as, to realize his fortune.

4. To acquire as an actual possession; to obtain as the result of plans and efforts; to gain; to get; as, to realize large profits from a speculation. Knighthood was not beyond the reach of any man who could by diligent thrift realize a good estate. Macaulay.

5. To convert into actual money; as, to realize assets.

REALIZE Re"al*ize, v. t.

Defn: To convert any kind of property into money, especially property representing investments, as shares in stock companies, bonds, etc. Wary men took the alarm, and began to realize, a word now first brought into use to express the conversion of ideal property into something real. W. Irving.

REALIZER Re"al*i`zer, n.

Defn: One who realizes. Coleridge.

REALIZING Re"al*i`zing, a.

Defn: Serving to make real, or to impress on the mind as a reality; as, a realizing view of the danger incurred. — Re"al*i`zing*ly, adv.

REALLEGE Re`al*lege", v. t.

Defn: To allege again. Cotgrave.

REALLIANCE Re`al*li"ance, n.

Defn: A renewed alliance.

RE-ALLY Re"-al*ly", v. t. Etym: [Pref. re- + ally, v. t.]

Defn: To bring together again; to compose or form anew. Spenser.

REALLY Re"al*ly`, adv.

Defn: Royally. [Obs.] Chaucer.

REALLY Re"al*ly, adv.

Defn: In a real manner; with or in reality; actually; in truth. Whose anger is really but a short fit of madness. Swift.

Note: Really is often used familiarly as a slight corroboration of an opinion or a declaration. Why, really, sixty-five is somewhat old. Young.

REALM Realm, n. Etym: [OE. realme, ream, reaume, OF. reialme, roialme, F. royaume, fr. (assumed) LL. regalimen, from L. regalis royal. See Regal.]

1. A royal jurisdiction or domain; a region which is under the dominion of a king; a kingdom. The absolute master of realms on which the sun perpetually alone. Motley.

2. Hence, in general, province; region; country; domain; department; division; as, the realm of fancy.

REALMLESS Realm"less, a.

Defn: Destitute of a realm. Keats.

REALNESS Re"al*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or condition of being real; reality.

REALTY Re"al*ty, n. Etym: [OF. réalté, LL. regalitas, fr. L. regalis. See Regal.]

1. Royalty. [Obs.] Chaucer.

2. Loyalty; faithfulness. [R.] Milton.

REALTY Re"al*ty, n. Etym: [Contr. from 1st Reality.]

1. Realty. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.

2. (Law) (a) Immobility, or the fixed, permanent nature of real property; as, chattels which savor of the realty; — so written in legal language for reality. (b) Real estate; a piece of real property. Blackstone.

REAM Ream, n. Etym: [AS. reám, akin to G. rahm.]

Defn: Cream; also, the cream or froth on ale. [Scot.]

REAM Ream, v. i.

Defn: To cream; to mantle. [Scot.] A huge pewter measuring pot which, in the language of the hostess, reamed with excellent claret. Sir W. Scott.

REAM Ream, v. t. Etym: [Cf. Reim.]

Defn: To stretch out; to draw out into thongs, threads, or filaments.

REAM Ream, n. Etym: [OE. reme, OF. rayme, F. rame (cf. Sp. resma), fr. Ar. rizma a bundle, especially of paper.]

Defn: A bundle, package, or quantity of paper, usually consisting of twenty quires or 480 sheets. Printer's ream, twenty-one and a half quires. [Eng.] A common practice is now to count five hundred sheets to the ream. Knight.

REAM Ream, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Reamed; p. pr. & vb. n. Reaming.] Etym: [Cf. G. räumen to remove, to clear away, fr. raum room. See Room.]

Defn: To bevel out, as the mouth of a hole in wood or metal; in modern usage, to enlarge or dress out, as a hole, with a reamer.

REAME Reame, n.

Defn: Realm. [Obs.] Chaucer.

REAMER Ream"er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, reams; specifically, an instrument with cutting or scraping edges, used, with a twisting motion, for enlarging a round hole, as a bore of a cannon, etc.

REAMPUTATION Re*am`pu*ta"tion, n. (Surg.)

Defn: The second of two amputations performed upon the same member.

REANIMATE Re*an"i*mate, v. t.

Defn: To animate anew; to restore to animation or life; to infuse new life, vigor, spirit, or courage into; to revive; to reinvigorate; as, to reanimate a drowned person; to reanimate disheartened troops; to reanimate languid spirits. Glanvill.

REANIMATION Re*an"i*ma"tion, n.

Defn: The act or operation of reanimating, or the state of being reanimated; reinvigoration; revival.

REANNEX Re`an*nex", v. t.

Defn: To annex again or anew; to reunite. "To reannex that duchy." Bacon.

REANNEXATION Re*an`nex*a"tion, n.

Defn: Act of reannexing.

REANSWER Re*an"swer, v. t. & i.

Defn: To answer in return; to repay; to compensate; to make amends for. Which in weight to reanswer, his pettiness would bow under. Shak.

REAP Reap, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Raped; p. pr. & vb. n. Reaping.] Etym: [OE. repen, AS. ripan to seize, reap; cf. D. rapen to glean, reap, G. raufen to pluck, Goth. raupjan, or E. ripe.]

1. To cut with a sickle, scythe, or reaping machine, as grain; to gather, as a harvest, by cutting. When ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field. Lev.

2. To gather; to obtain; to receive as a reward or harvest, or as the fruit of labor or of works; — in a good or a bad sense; as, to reap a benefit from exertions. Why do I humble thus myself, and, suing For peace, reap nothing but repulse and hate Milton.

3. To clear or a crop by reaping; as, to reap a field.

4. To deprive of the beard; to shave. [R.] Shak. Reaping hook, an instrument having a hook-shaped blade, used in reaping; a sickle; — in a specific sense, distinguished from a sickle by a blade keen instead of serrated.

REAP Reap, v. i.

Defn: To perform the act or operation of reaping; to gather a harvest. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. Ps. cxxvi. 5.

REAP Reap, n. Etym: [Cf. AS. rip harvest. See Reap, v.]

Defn: A bundle of grain; a handful of grain laid down by the reaper as it is cut. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Wright.

REAPER Reap"er, n.

1. One who reaps. The sun-burned reapers wiping their foreheads. Macaulay.

2. A reaping machine.

REAPPAREL Re`ap*par"el, v. t.

Defn: To clothe again.

REAPPEAR Re`ap*pear, v. i.

Defn: To appear again.

REAPPEARANCE Re`ap*pear"ance, v. i.

Defn: A second or new appearance; the act or state of appearing again.

REAPPLICATION Re*ap`pli*ca"tion, n.

Defn: The act of reapplying, or the state of being reapplied.

REAPPLY Re`ap*ply", v. t. & i.

Defn: To apply again.

REAPPOINT Re`ap*point", v. t.

Defn: To appoint again.

REAPPOINTMENT Re`ap*point"ment, n.

Defn: The act of reappointing, or the state of being reappointed.

REAPPORTION Re`ap*por"tion, v. t.

Defn: To apportion again.

REAPPORTIONMENT Re`ap*por"tion*ment, n.

Defn: A second or a new apportionment.

REAPPROACH Re`ap*proach", v. i. & t.

Defn: To approach again or anew.

REAR Rear, adv.

Defn: Early; soon. [Prov. Eng.] Then why does Cuddy leave his cot so rear! Gay.

REAR Rear, n. Etym: [OF. riere behind, backward, fr. L. retro. Cf. Arrear.]

1. The back or hindmost part; that which is behind, or last on order; — opposed to Ant: front. Nipped with the lagging rear of winter's frost. Milton.

2. Specifically, the part of an army or fleet which comes last, or is stationed behind the rest. When the fierce foe hung on our broken rear. Milton.

REAR Rear, a.

Defn: Being behind, or in the hindmost part; hindmost; as, the rear rank of a company. Rear admiral, an officer in the navy, next in rank below a vice admiral, and above a commodore. See Admiral. — Rear front (Mil.), the rear rank of a body of troops when faced about and standing in that position. — Rear guard (Mil.), the division of an army that marches in the rear of the main body to protect it; — used also figuratively. — Rear line (Mil.), the line in the rear of an army. — Rear rank (Mil.), the rank or line of a body of troops which is in the rear, or last in order. — Rear sight (Firearms), the sight nearest the breech. — To bring up the rear, to come last or behind.

REAR Rear, v. t.

Defn: To place in the rear; to secure the rear of. [R.]

REAR Rear, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Reared; p. pr. & vb. n. Rearing.] Etym: [AS. ræran to raise, rear, elevate, for ræsan, causative of risan to rise. See Rise, and cf. Raise.]

1. To raise; to lift up; to cause to rise, become erect, etc.; to elevate; as, to rear a monolith. In adoration at his feet I fell Submiss; he reared me. Milton. It reareth our hearts from vain thoughts. Barrow. Mine [shall be] the first hand to rear her banner. Ld. Lytton.

2. To erect by building; to set up; to construct; as, to rear defenses or houses; to rear one government on the ruins of another. One reared a font of stone. Tennyson.

3. To lift and take up. [Obs. or R.] And having her from Trompart lightly reared, Upon his set the lovely load. Spenser.

4. To bring up to maturity, as young; to educate; to instruct; to foster; as, to rear offspring. He wants a father to protect his youth, And rear him up to virtue. Southern.

5. To breed and raise; as, to rear cattle.

6. To rouse; to strip up. [Obs.] And seeks the tusky boar to rear. Dryden.

Syn. — To lift; elevate; erect; raise, build; establish. See the Note under Raise, 3 (c).

REAR Rear, v. i.

Defn: To rise up on the hind legs, as a horse; to become erect. Rearing bit, a bit designed to prevent a horse from lifting his head when rearing. Knight.

REARDORSE; REARDOSS Rear"dorse, Rear"doss, n.

Defn: A reredos.

REARER Rear"er, n.

Defn: One he, or that which, rears.

REARGUE Re*ar"gue, v. t.

Defn: To argue anew or again.

REARGUMENT Re*ar"gu*ment, n.

Defn: An arguing over again, as of a motion made in court.

REAR-HORSE Rear"-horse`, n. Etym: [So called because it rears up when disturbed.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A mantis.

REARLY Rear"ly, adv.

Defn: Early. [Obs.] Beau. & Ft.

REARMOST Rear"most`, a.

Defn: Farthest in the rear; last.

REARMOUSE; REREMOUSE Rear"mouse`, Rere"mouse`, n. Etym: [AS. hreremus; probably fr. hreran to agitate, stir (akin to G. rühren, Icel. hræra) + mus mouse.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The leather-winged bat (Vespertilio murinus). [Written also reermouse.]

REARRANGE Re`ar*range", v. t.

Defn: To arrange again; to arrange in a different way.

REARRANGEMENT Re`ar*range"ment, n.

Defn: The act of rearranging, or the state of being rearranged.

REARWARD Rear"ward`, n. Etym: [Rear + ward.]

Defn: The last troop; the rear of an army; a rear guard. Also used figuratively. Shak.

REARWARD Rear"ward, a. & adv.

Defn: At or toward the rear.

REASCEND Re`as*cend", v. i.

Defn: To rise, mount, or climb again.

REASCEND Re`as*cend", v. t.

Defn: To ascend or mount again; to reach by ascending again. He mounts aloft, and reascends the skies. Addison.

REASCENSION Re`as*cen"sion, n.

Defn: The act of reascending; a remounting.

REASCENT Re`as*cent", n.

Defn: A returning ascent or ascension; acclivity. Cowper.

REASON Rea"son, n. Etym: [OE. resoun, F. raison, fr. L. ratio (akin to Goth. rapj number, account, garapjan to count, G. rede speech, reden to speak), fr. reri, ratus, to reckon, believe, think. Cf. Arraign, Rate, Ratio, Ration.]

1. A thought or a consideration offered in support of a determination or an opinion; a just ground for a conclusion or an action; that which is offered or accepted as an explanation; the efficient cause of an occurrence or a phenomenon; a motive for an action or a determination; proof, more or less decisive, for an opinion or a conclusion; principle; efficient cause; final cause; ground of argument. I'll give him reasons for it. Shak. The reason of the motion of the balance in a wheel watch is by the motion of the next wheel. Sir M. Hale. This reason did the ancient fathers render, why the church was called "catholic." Bp. Pearson. Virtue and vice are not arbitrary things; but there is a natural and eternal reason for that goodness and virtue, and against vice and wickedness. Tillotson.

2. The faculty of capacity of the human mind by which it is distinguished from the intelligence of the inferior animals; the higher as distinguished from the lower cognitive faculties, sense, imagination, and memory, and in contrast to the feelings and desires. Reason comprises conception, judgment, reasoning, and the intuitional faculty. Specifically, it is the intuitional faculty, or the faculty of first truths, as distinguished from the understanding, which is called the discursive or ratiocinative faculty. We have no other faculties of perceiving or knowing anything divine or human, but by our five senses and our reason. P. Browne. In common and popular discourse, reason denotes that power by which we distinguish truth from falsehood, and right from wrong, and by which we are enabled to combine means for the attainment of particular ends. Stewart. Reason is used sometimes to express the whole of those powers which elevate man above the brutes, and constitute his rational nature, more especially, perhaps, his intellectual powers; sometimes to express the power of deduction or argumentation. Stewart. By the pure reason I mean the power by which we become possessed of principles. Coleridge. The sense perceives; the understanding, in its own peculiar operation, conceives; the reason, or rationalized understanding, comprehends. Coleridge.

3. Due exercise of the reasoning faculty; accordance with, or that which is accordant with and ratified by, the mind rightly exercised; right intellectual judgment; clear and fair deductions from true principles; that which is dictated or supported by the common sense of mankind; right conduct; right; propriety; justice. I was promised, on a time, To have reason for my rhyme. Spenser. But law in a free nation hath been ever public reason; the enacted reason of a parliament, which he denying to enact, denies to govern us by that which ought to be our law; interposing his own private reason, which to us is no law. Milton. The most probable way of bringing France to reason would be by the making an attempt on the Spanish West Indies. Addison.

4. (Math.)

Defn: Ratio; proportion. [Obs.] Barrow. By reason of, by means of; on account of; because of. "Spain is thin sown of people, partly by reason of the sterility of the soil." Bacon. In reason, In all reason, in justice; with rational ground; in a right view. When anything is proved by as good arguments as a thing of that kind is capable of, we ought not, in reason, to doubt of its existence. Tillotson. — It is reason, it is reasonable; it is right. [Obs.] Yet it were great reason, that those that have children should have greatest care of future times. Bacon.

Syn. — Motive; argument; ground; consideration; principle; sake; account; object; purpose; design. See Motive, Sense.

REASON Rea"son, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Reasoned; p. pr. & vb. n. Reasoning.] Etym: [Cf. F. raisonner. See Reason, n.]

1. To exercise the rational faculty; to deduce inferences from premises; to perform the process of deduction or of induction; to ratiocinate; to reach conclusions by a systematic comparison of facts.

2. Hence: To carry on a process of deduction or of induction, in order to convince or to confute; to formulate and set forth propositions and the inferences from them; to argue. Stand still, that I may reason with you, before the Lord, of all the righteous acts of the Lord. 1 Sam. xii. 7.

3. To converse; to compare opinions. Shak.

REASON Rea"son, v. t.

1. To arrange and present the reasons for or against; to examine or discuss by arguments; to debate or discuss; as, I reasoned the matter with my friend. When they are clearly discovered, well digested, and well reasoned in every part, there is beauty in such a theory. T. Burnet.

2. To support with reasons, as a request. [R.] Shak.

3. To persuade by reasoning or argument; as, to reason one into a belief; to reason one out of his plan. Men that will not be reasoned into their senses. L'Estrange.

4. To overcome or conquer by adducing reasons; — with down; as, to reason down a passion.

5. To find by logical process; to explain or justify by reason or argument; — usually with out; as, to reason out the causes of the librations of the moon.

REASONABLE Rea"son*a*ble, a. Etym: [OE. resonable, F. raisonnable, fr. L. rationabilis. See Reason, n.]

1. Having the faculty of reason; endued with reason; rational; as, a reasonable being.

2. Governed by reason; being under influence of reason; thinking, speaking or acting rationally, or according to the dictates of reason; agreeable to reason; just; rational; as, the measure must satisfy all reasonable men. By indubitable certainty, I mean that which doth not admit of any reasonable cause of doubting. Bp. Wilkins. Men have no right to what is not reasonable. Burke.

3. Not excessive or immoderate; within due limits; proper; as, a reasonable demand, amount, price. Let . . . all things be thought upon That may, with reasonable swiftness, add More feathers to you wings. Shak.

Syn. — Rational; just; honest; equitable; fair; suitable; moderate; tolerable. See Rational.

REASONABLE Rea"son*a*ble, adv.

Defn: Reasonable; tolerably. [Obs.] I have a reasonable good ear in music. Shak.

REASONABLENESS Rea"son*a*ble*ness, n.

Defn: Quality of being reasonable.

REASONABLY Rea"son*a*bly, adv.

1. In a reasonable manner.

2. Moderately; tolerably. "Reasonably perfect in the language." Holder.

REASONER Rea"son*er, n.

Defn: One who reasons or argues; as, a fair reasoner; a close reasoner; a logical reasoner.

REASONING Rea"son*ing, n.

1. The act or process of adducing a reason or reasons; manner of presenting one's reasons.

2. That which is offered in argument; proofs or reasons when arranged and developed; course of argument. His reasoning was sufficiently profound. Macaulay.

Syn. — Argumentation; argument. — Reasoning, Argumentation. Few words are more interchanged than these; and yet, technically, there is a difference between them. Reasoning is the broader term, including both deduction and induction. Argumentation denotes simply the former, and descends from the whole to some included part; while reasoning embraces also the latter, and ascends from a part to a whole. See Induction. Reasoning is occupied with ideas and their relations; argumentation has to do with the forms of logic. A thesis is set down: you attack, I defend it; you insist, I prove; you distinguish, I destroy your distinctions; my replies balance or overturn your objections. Such is argumentation. It supposes that there are two sides, and that both agree to the same rules. Reasoning, on the other hand, is often a natural process, by which we form, from the general analogy of nature, or special presumptions in the case, conclusions which have greater or less degrees of force, and which may be strengthened or weakened by subsequent experience.

REASONIST Rea"son*ist, n.

Defn: A rationalist. [Obs.] Such persons are now commonly called "reasonists" and "rationalists," to distinguish them from true reasoners and rational inquirers. Waterland.

REASONLESS Rea"son*less, a.

1. Destitute of reason; as, a reasonless man or mind. Shak.

2. Void of reason; not warranted or supported by reason; unreasonable. This proffer is absurd and reasonless. Shak.

REASSEMBLAGE Re`as*sem"blage, n.

Defn: Assemblage a second time or again.

REASSEMBLE Re`as*sem"ble, v. t. & i.

Defn: To assemble again.

REASSERT Re`as*sert", v. t.

Defn: To assert again or anew; to maintain after an omission to do so. Let us hope . . . we may have a body of authors who will reassert our claim to respectability in literature. Walsh.

REASSERTION Re`as*ser"tion, n.

Defn: A second or renewed assertion of the same thing.

REASSESSMENT Re`as*sess"ment, n.

Defn: A renewed or second assessment.

REASSIGN Re`as*sign", v. t.

Defn: To assign back or again; to transfer back what has been assigned.

REASSIGNMENT Re`as*sign"ment, n.

Defn: The act of reassigning.

REASSIMILATE Re`as*sim"i*late, v. t. & i.

Defn: To assimilate again. — Re`as*sim`i*la"tion, n.

REASSOCIATE Re`as*so"ci*ate, v. t. & i.

Defn: To associate again; to bring again into close relatoins.

REASSUME Re`as*sume", v. t.

Defn: To assume again or anew; to resume. — Re`as*sump"tion, n.

REASSURANCE Re`as*sur"ance, n.

1. Assurance or confirmation renewed or repeated. Prynne.

2. (Law)

Defn: Same as Reinsurance.

REASSURE Re`as*sure", v. t.

1. To assure anew; to restore confidence to; to free from fear or terror. They rose with fear, . . . Till dauntless Pallas reassured the rest. Dryden.

2. To reinsure.

REASSURER Re`as*sur"er, n.

Defn: One who reassures.

REASTY Reas"ty, a. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]

Defn: Rusty and rancid; — applied to salt meat. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Tusser. — Reas"ti*ness, n. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

REATA Re*a"ta, n. Etym: [Sp.]

Defn: A lariat.

REATTACH Re`at*tach, v. t.

Defn: To attach again.

REATTACHMENT Re`at*tach"ment, n.

Defn: The act of reattaching; a second attachment.

REATTAIN Re`at*tain", v. t.

Defn: To attain again.

REATTAINMENT Re`at*tain"ment, n.

Defn: The act of reattaining.

REATTEMPT Re`at*tempt", v. t.

Defn: To attempt again.

REAUME Re`aume, n.

Defn: Realm. [Obs.] Chaucer.

REAUMUR Ré`au`mur", a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to René Antoine Ferchault de Réaumur; conformed to the scale adopted by Réaumur in graduating the thermometer he invented. — n.

Defn: A Réaumur thermometer or scale.

Note: The Réaumur thermometer is so graduated that 0º marks the freezing point and 80º the boiling point of water. Frequently indicated by R. Cf. Centigrade, and Fahrenheit. See Illust. of Thermometer.

REAVE Reave, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Reaved, Reft (, or Raft ( (obs.); p. pr. & vb. n. Reaving.] Etym: [AS. reáfian, from reáf spoil, plunder, clothing, reófan to break (cf. bireófan to deprive of); akin to G. rauben to rob, Icel. raufa to rob, rjufa to break, violate, Goth. biráubon to despoil, L. rumpere to break; cf. Skr. lup to break. sq. root114. Cf. Bereave, Rob, v. t., Robe, Rove, v. t., Rupture.]

Defn: To take away by violence or by stealth; to snatch away; to rob; to despoil; to bereave. [Archaic]. "To reave his life." Spenser. He golden apples raft of the dragon. Chaucer. By privy stratagem my life at home. Chapman. To reave the orphan of his patrimony. Shak. The heaven caught and reft him of his tongue. Tennyson.

REAVER Reav"er, n.

Defn: One who reaves. [Archaic]

REAWAKE Re`a*wake", v. i.

Defn: To awake again.

REBANISH Re*ban"ish, v. t.

Defn: To banish again.

REBAPTISATION; REBAPTIZATION Re*bap`ti*sa"tion, Re*bap`ti*za"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. rebaptisation.]

Defn: A second baptism. [Obs.] Hooker.

REBAPTISM Re*bap"tism, n.

Defn: A second baptism.

REBAPTIZE Re`bap*tize", v. t. Etym: [Pref. re- + baptist: of F. rebaptiser, L. rebaptizare.]

Defn: To baptize again or a second time.

REBAPTIZER Re`bap*tiz"er, n.

Defn: One who rebaptizes.

REBARBARIZE Re*bar"ba*rize, v. t.

Defn: To reduce again to barbarism. — Re*bar`ba*ri*za"tion, n. Germany . . . rebarbarized by polemical theology and religious wars. Sir W. Hamilton.

REBATE Re*bate", v. t. Etym: [F. rebattre to beat again; pref re- re- + battre to beat, L. batuere to beat, strike. See Abate.]

1. To beat to obtuseness; to deprive of keenness; to blunt; to turn back the point of, as a lance used for exercise. But doth rebate and blunt his natural edge. Shak.

2. To deduct from; to make a discount from, as interest due, or customs duties. Blount. Rebated cross, a cross which has the extremities of the arms bent back at right angles, as in the fylfot.

REBATE Re*bate", v. i.

Defn: To abate; to withdraw. [Obs.] Foxe.

REBATE Re*bate", n.

1. Diminution.

2. (Com.)

Defn: Deduction; abatement; as, a rebate of interest for immediate payment; a rebate of importation duties. Bouvier.

REBATE Re*bate", n. Etym: [See Rabbet.]

1. (Arch.)

Defn: A restangular longitudinal recess or groove, cut in the corner or edge of any body; a rabbet. See Rabbet.

2. A piece of wood hafted into a long stick, and serving to beat out mortar. Elmes.

3. An iron tool sharpened something like a chisel, and used for dressing and polishing wood. Elmes.

4. Etym: [Perhaps a different word.]

Defn: A kind of hard freestone used in making pavements. [R.] Elmes.

REBATE Re*bate", v. t.

Defn: To cut a rebate in. See Rabbet, v.

REBATEMENT Re*bate"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. rabatement, fr. rabatre to diminish, F. rabatre.]

Defn: Same as 3d Rebate, v.

REBATO Re*ba"to, n.

Defn: Same as Rabato. Burton.

REBEC Re"bec, n. Etym: [F., fr. It. ribeca, ribeba, fr. Ar. rabab a musical instrument of a round form.]

1. (Mus.)

Defn: An instrument formerly used which somewhat resembled the violin, having three strings, and being played with a bow. [Written also rebeck.] Milton. He turn'd his rebec to a mournful note. Drayton.

2. A contemptuous term applied to an old woman. [Obs.] Chaucer.

REBEL Reb"el, a. Etym: [F. rebelle, fr. L. rebellis. See Rebel, v. t.]

Defn: Pertaining to rebels or rebellion; acting in revolt; rebellious; as, rebel troops. Whoso be rebel to my judgment. Chaucer. Convict by flight, and rebel to all law. Milton.

REBEL Reb"el, n. Etym: [F. rebelle.]

Defn: One who rebels.

Syn. — Revolter; insurgent. — Rebel, Insurgent. Insurgent marks an early, and rebel a more advanced, stage of opposition to government. The former rises up against his rulers, the latter makes war upon them.

REBEL Re*bel", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Rebelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Rebelling.] Etym: [F. rebeller, fr. L. rebellare to make war again; pref. re- again + bellare to make war, fr. bellum war. See Bellicose, and cf. Revel to carouse.]

1. To renounce, and resist by force, the authority of the ruler or government to which one owes obedience. See Rebellion. The murmur and the churl's rebelling. Chaucer. Ye have builded you an altar, that ye might rebel this day against the Lord. Josh. xxii. 16.

2. To be disobedient to authority; to assume a hostile or insubordinate attitude; to revolt. Hoe could my hand rebel against my heart How could you heart rebel against your reason Dryden.

REBELDOM Reb"el*dom, n.

Defn: A region infested by rebels; rebels, considered collectively; also, conduct o Thackeray.

REBELLER Re*bel"ler, n.

Defn: One who rebels; a rebel.

REBELLION Re*bel"lion, n. Etym: [F. rébellion, L. rebellio. See Rebel, v. t. Among the Romans rebellion was originally a revolt or open resistance to their government by nations that had been subdued in war. It was a renewed war.]

1. The act of rebelling; open and avowed renunciation of the authority of the government to which one owes obedience, and resistances to its officers and laws, either by levying war, or by aiding others to do so; an organized uprising of subjects for the purpose of coercing or overthrowing their lawful ruler or government by force; revolt; insurrection. No sooner is the standard of rebellion displayed than men of desperate principles resort to it. Ames.

2. Open resistances to, or defiance of, lawful authority. Commission of rebellion (Eng. Law), a process of contempt on the nonappearance of a defendant, — non abolished. Wharton. Burrill.

Syn. — Insurrection; sedition; revolt; mutiny; resistances; contumacy. See Insurrection.

REBELLIOUS Re*bel"lious, a.

Defn: Engaged in rebellion; disposed to rebel of the nature of rebels or of rebellion; resisting government or lawful authority by force. "Thy rebellious crew." "Proud rebellious arms." Milton. — Re*bel"lious*ly, adv. — Re*bel"lious*ness, n.

REBELLOW Re*bel"low, v. i.

Defn: To bellow again; to repeat or echo a bellow. The cave rebellowed, and the temple shook. Dryden.

REBITING Re*bit"ing, n. (Etching)

Defn: The act or process of deepening worn lines in an etched plate by submitting it again to the action if acid. Fairholt.

REBLOOM Re*bloom", v. i.

Defn: To bloom again. Crabbe.

REBLOSSOM Re*blos"som, v. i.

Defn: To blossom again.

REBOANT Re*bo"ant, a. Etym: [L. reboans, p. pr. of reboare; pref. re- re- + boare to cry aloud.]

Defn: Rebellowing; resounding loudly. [R.] Mrs. Browning.

REBOATION Re`bo*a"tion, n.

Defn: Repetition of a bellow. [R.] Bp. Patrick.

REBOIL Re*boil", v. t. & i. Etym: [Pref. re- + boil: cf. F. rebouillir.]

1. To boil, or to cause to boil, again.

2. Fig.: To make or to become hot. [Obs.] Some of his companions thereat reboyleth. Sir T. Elyot.

REBORN Re*born", p. p.

Defn: Born again.

REBOUND Re*bound", v. i. Etym: [Pref. re- + bound: cf. F. rebondir.]

1. To spring back; to start back; to be sent back or reverberated by elastic force on collision with another body; as, a rebounding echo. Bodies which are absolutely hard, or so soft as to be void of elasticity, will not rebound from one another. Sir I. Newton.

2. To give back an echo. [R.] T. Warton.

3. To bound again or repeatedly, as a horse. Pope. Rebounding lock (Firearms), one in which the hammer rebounds to half cock after striking the cap or primer.

REBOUND Re*bound", v. t.

Defn: To send back; to reverberate. Silenus sung; the vales his voice rebound. Dryden.

REBOUND Re*bound", n.

Defn: The act of rebounding; resilience. Flew . . . back, as from a rock, with swift rebound. Dryden.

REBOZO Re*bo"zo, n. [Sp. rebozo.]

Defn: A kind of mantilla worn by women over the head and shoulders, and sometimes over part of the face. [Mexico & Sp. Amer.]

REBRACE Re*brace", v. t.

Defn: To brace again. Gray.

REBREATHE Re*breathe", v. t.

Defn: To breathe again.

REBUCOUS Re*bu"cous, a.

Defn: Rebuking. [Obs.] She gave unto him many rebucous words. Fabyan.

REBUFF Re*buff", n. Etym: [It. ribuffo, akin to ribuffare to repulse; pref. ri- (L. re-) + buffo puff. Cf. Buff to strike, Buffet a blow.]

1. Repercussion, or beating back; a quick and sudden resistance. The strong rebuff of some tumultuous cloud. Milton.

2. Sudden check; unexpected repulse; defeat; refusal; repellence; rejection of solicitation.

REBUFF Re*buff", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rebuffed; p. pr. & vb. n. Rebuffing.]

Defn: To beat back; to offer sudden resistance to; to check; to repel or repulse violently, harshly, or uncourteously.

REBUILD Re*build", v. t.

Defn: To build again, as something which has been demolished; to construct anew; as, to rebuild a house, a wall, a wharf, or a city.

REBUILDER Re*build"er, n.

Defn: One who rebuilds. Bp. Bull.

REBUKABLE Re*buk"a*ble, a.

Defn: Worthy of rebuke or reprehension; reprehensible. Shak.

REBUKE Re*buke", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rebuked; p. pr. & vb. n. Rebuking.] Etym: [OF. rebouquier to dull, blunt, F. reboucher; perhaps fr. pref. re- re- + bouche mouth, OF. also bouque, L. bucca cheek; if so, the original sense was, to stop the mouth of; hence, to stop, obstruct.]

Defn: To check, silence, or put down, with reproof; to restrain by expression of disapprobation; to reprehend sharply and summarily; to chide; to reprove; to admonish. The proud he tamed, the penitent he cheered, Nor to rebuke the rich offender feared. Dryden.

Syn. — To reprove; chide; check; chasten; restrain; silence. See Reprove.

REBUKE Re*buke", n.

1. A direct and pointed reproof; a reprimand; also, chastisement; punishment. For thy sake I have suffered rebuke. Jer. xv. 15. Why bear you these rebukes and answer not Shak.

2. Check; rebuff. [Obs.] L'Estrange. To be without rebuke, to live without giving cause of reproof or censure; to be blameless.

REBUKEFUL Re*buke"ful, a.

Defn: Containing rebuke; of the nature of rebuke. [Obs.] — Re*buke"ful*ly, adv. [Obs.]

REBUKER Re*buk"er, n.

Defn: One who rebukes.

REBUKINGLY Re*buk"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: By way of rebuke.

REBULLITION Re`bul*li"tion, n.

Defn: The act of boiling up or effervescing. [R.] Sir H. Wotton.

REBURY Re*bur"y, v. t.

Defn: To bury again. Ashmole.

REBUS Re"bus, n.; pl. Rebuses. Etym: [L. rebus by things, abl. pl. of res a thing: cf. F. rébus. Cf. 3d things, abl. pl. of res a thing: cf. F. rébus. Cf. 3d Real.]

1. A mode of expressing words and phrases by pictures of objects whose names resemble those words, or the syllables of which they are composed; enigmatical representation of words by figures; hence, a peculiar form of riddle made up of such representations.

Note: A gallant, in love with a woman named Rose Hill, had, embroidered on his gown, a rose, a hill, an eye, a loaf, and a well, signifying, Rose Hill I love well.

2. (Her.)

Defn: A pictorial suggestion on a coat of arms of the name of the person to whom it belongs. See Canting arms, under Canting.

REBUS Re"bus, v. t.

Defn: To mark or indicate by a rebus. He [John Morton] had a fair library rebused with More in text and Tun under it. Fuller.

REBUT Re*but", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rebutted; p. pr. & vb. n. Rebutting.] Etym: [OF. reb to repulse, drive back; pref. re- + bouter to push, thrust. See 1st Butt, Boutade.]

1. To drive or beat back; to repulse. Who him, recount'ring fierce, as hawk in flight, Perforce rebutted back. Spenser.

2. (Law)

Defn: To contradict, meet, or oppose by argument, plea, or countervailing proof. Abbott.

REBUT Re*but", v. i.

1. To retire; to recoil. [Obs.] Spenser.

2. (Law)

Defn: To make, or put in, an answer, as to a plaintiff's surrejoinder. The plaintiff may answer the rejoinder by a surrejoinder; on which the defendant. Blackstone.

REBUTTABLE Re*but"ta*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being rebutted.

REBUTTAL Re*but"tal, n. (Law)

Defn: The giving of evidence on the part of a plaintiff to destroy the effect of evidence introduced by the defendant in the same suit.

REBUTTER Re*but"ter, n. (Law)

Defn: The answer of a defendant in matter of fact to a plaintiff's surrejoinder.

RECADENCY Re*ca"den*cy, n.

Defn: A falling back or descending a second time; a relapse. W. Montagu.

RECALCITRANT Re*cal"ci*trant, a. Etym: [L. recalcitrans, p. pr. of recalcitrare to kick back; pref. re- re- + calcitrare to kick, fr. calx heel. Cf. Inculcate.]

Defn: Kicking back; recalcitrating; hence, showing repugnance or opposition; refractory.

RECALCITRATE Re*cal"ci*trate, v. t.

Defn: To kick against; to show repugnance to; to rebuff. The more heartily did one disdain his disdain, and recalcitrate his tricks. De Quincey.

RECALCITRATE Re*cal"ci*trate, v. i.

Defn: To kick back; to kick against anything; hence, to express repugnance or opposition.

RECALCITRATION Re*cal`ci*tra"tion, n.

Defn: A kicking back again; opposition; repugnance; refractoriness.

RECALL Re*call", v. t.

1. To call back; to summon to return; as, to recall troops; to recall an ambassador.

2. To revoke; to annul by a subsequent act; to take back; to withdraw; as, to recall words, or a decree. Passed sentence may not be recall'd. Shak.

3. To call back to mind; to revive in memory; to recollect; to remember; as, to recall bygone days.

RECALL Re*call", n.

1. A calling back; a revocation. 'T his done, and since 't is done, 't is past recall. Dryden.

2. (Mil.)

Defn: A call on the trumpet, bugle, or drum, by which soldiers are recalled from duty, labor, etc. Wilhelm.

RECALLABLE Re*call"a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being recalled.

RECALLMENT Re*call"ment, n.

Defn: Recall. [R.] R. Browning.

RECANT Re*cant", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Recanted; p. pr. & vb. n. Recanting.] Etym: [L. recantare, recantatum, to recall, recant; pref. re- re- + cantare to sing, to sound. See 3d Cant, Chant.]

Defn: To withdraw or repudiate formally and publicly (opinions formerly expressed); to contradict, as a former declaration; to take back openly; to retract; to recall. How soon . . . ease would recant Vows made in pain, as violent and void! Milton.

Syn. — To retract; recall; revoke; abjure; disown; disavow. See Renounce.

RECANT Re*cant", v. i.

Defn: To revoke a declaration or proposition; to unsay what has been said; to retract; as, convince me that I am wrong, and I will recant. Dryden.

RECANTATION Re`can*ta"tion, n.

Defn: The act of recanting; a declaration that contradicts a former one; that which is thus asserted in contradiction; retraction. The poor man was imprisoned for this discovery, and forced to make a public recantation. Bp. Stillingfleet.

RECANTER Re*cant"er, n.

Defn: One who recants.

RECAPACITATE Re`ca*pac"i*tate, v. t.

Defn: To qualify again; to confer capacity on again. Atterbury.

RECAPITULATE Re*ca*pit"u*late, v. t. Etym: [L. recapitulare, recapitulatum; pref. re- re- + capitulum a small head, chapter, section. See Capitulate.]

Defn: To repeat, as the principal points in a discourse, argument, or essay; to give a summary of the principal facts, points, or arguments of; to relate in brief; to summarize.

RECAPITULATE Re`ca*pit"u*late, v. i.

Defn: To sum up, or enumerate by heads or topics, what has been previously said; to repeat briefly the substance.

RECAPITULATION Re`ca*pit`u*la"tion, n. Etym: [LL. recapitulatio: cf. F. recapitulation.]

Defn: The act of recapitulating; a summary, or concise statement or enumeration, of the principal points, facts, or statements, in a preceding discourse, argument, or essay.

RECAPITULATOR Re`ca*pit"u*la`tor, n.

Defn: One who recapitulates.

RECAPITULATORY Re`ca*pit"u*la*to*ry, a.

Defn: Of the nature of a recapitulation; containing recapitulation.

RECAPPER Re*cap"per, n. (Firearms)

Defn: A tool used for applying a fresh percussion cap or primer to a cartridge shell in reloading it.

RECAPTION Re*cap"tion, n. (Law)

Defn: The act of retaking, as of one who has escaped after arrest; reprisal; the retaking of one's own goods, chattels, wife, or children, without force or violence, from one who has taken them and who wrongfully detains them. Blackstone. Writ of recaption (Law), a writ to recover damages for him whose goods, being distrained for rent or service, are distrained again for the same cause.Wharton.

RECAPTOR Re*cap"tor, n.

Defn: One who recaptures; one who takes a prize which had been previously taken.

RECAPTURE Re*cap"ture, n.

1. The act of retaking or recovering by capture; especially, the retaking of a prize or goods from a captor.

2. That which is captured back; a prize retaken.

RECAPTURE Re*cap"ture, v. t.

Defn: To capture again; to retake.

RECARBONIZE Re*car"bon*ize, v. t. (Metal.)

Defn: To restore carbon to; as, to recarbonize iron in converting it into steel.

RECARNIFY Re*car"ni*fy, v. t.

Defn: To convert again into flesh. [Obs.] Howell.

RECARRIAGE Re*car"riage, n.

Defn: Act of carrying back.

RECARRY Re*car"ry, v. t.

Defn: To carry back. Walton.

RECAST Re*cast", v. t.

1. To throw again. Florio.

2. To mold anew; to cast anew; to throw into a new from a shape; to reconstruct; as, to recast cannon; to recast an argument or a play.

3. To compute, or cast up, a second time.

RECCHE Rec"che, v. i.

Defn: To reck. [Obs.] Chaucer.

RECCHELES Rec"che*les, a.

Defn: Reckless. [Obs.] Chaucer.

RECEDE Re*cede", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Receded; p. pr. & vb. n. Receding.] Etym: [L. recedere, recessum; pref. re- re- + cedere to go, to go along: cf. F. recéder. See Cede.]

1. To move back; to retreat; to withdraw. Like the hollow roar Of tides receding from the instituted shore. Dryden. All bodies moved circularly endeavor to recede from the center. Bentley.

2. To withdraw a claim or pretension; to desist; to relinquish what had been proposed or asserted; as, to recede from a demand or proposition.

Syn. — To retire; retreat; return; retrograde; withdraw; desist.

RECEDE Re*cede", v. t. Etym: [Pref. re- + cede. Cf. Recede, v. t.]

Defn: To cede back; to grant or yield again to a former possessor; as, to recede conquered territory.

RECEIPT Re*ceipt", n. Etym: [OE. receite, OF. recete, recepte, F. recette, fr. L. recipere, receptum, to receive. See Receive.]

1. The act of receiving; reception. "At the receipt of your letter." Shak.

2. Reception, as an act of hospitality. [Obs.] Thy kind receipt of me. Chapman.

3. Capability of receiving; capacity. [Obs.] It has become a place of great receipt. Evelyn.

4. Place of receiving. [Obs.] He saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom. Matt. ix. 9.

5. Hence, a recess; a retired place. [Obs.] "In a retired receipt together lay." Chapman.

6. A formulary according to the directions of which things are to be taken or combined; a recipe; as, a receipt for making sponge cake. She had a receipt to make white hair black. Sir T. Browne.

7. A writing acknowledging the taking or receiving of goods delivered; an acknowledgment of money paid.

8. That which is received; that which comes in, in distinction from what is expended, paid out, sent away, and the like; — usually in the plural; as, the receipts amounted to a thousand dollars. Cross receipts. See under Gross, a.

RECEIPT Re*ceipt", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Receipted; p. pr. & vb. n. Receipting.]

1. To give a receipt for; as, to receipt goods delivered by a sheriff.

2. To put a receipt on, as by writing or stamping; as, to receipt a bill.

RECEIPT Re*ceipt", v. i.

Defn: To give a receipt, as for money paid.

RECEIPTMENT Re*ceipt"ment, n. (O. Eng. Law)

Defn: The receiving or harboring a felon knowingly, after the commission of a felony. Burrill.

RECEIPTOR Re*ceipt"or, n.

Defn: One who receipts; specifically (Law), one who receipts for property which has been taken by the sheriff.

RECEIT Re*ceit", n.

Defn: Receipt. [Obs.] Chaucer.

RECEIVABILITY Re*ceiv`a*bil"i*ty, n.

Defn: The quality of being receivable; receivableness.

RECEIVABLE Re*ceiv"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. recevable.]

Defn: Capable of being received. — Re*ceiv"a*ble*ness, n. Bills receivable. See under 6th Bill.

RECEIVE Re*ceive", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Received; p. pr. & vb. n. Receiving.] Etym: [OF. receiver, recevoir, F. recevoir, fr. L. recipere; pref. re- re- + capere to take, seize. See See Capable, Heave, and cf. Receipt, Reception, Recipe.]

1. To take, as something that is offered, given, committed, sent, paid, or the like; to accept; as, to receive money offered in payment of a debt; to receive a gift, a message, or a letter. Receyven all in gree that God us sent. Chaucer.

2. Hence: To gain the knowledge of; to take into the mind by assent to; to give admission to; to accept, as an opinion, notion, etc.; to embrace. Our hearts receive your warnings. Shak. The idea of solidity we receives by our touch. Locke.

3. To allow, as a custom, tradition, or the like; to give credence or acceptance to. Many other things there be which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots. Mark vii. 4.

4. To give admittance to; to permit to enter, as into one's house, presence, company, and the like; as, to receive a lodger, visitor, ambassador, messenger, etc. They kindled a fire, and received us every one. Acts xxviii. 2.

5. To admit; to take in; to hold; to contain; to have capacity fro; to be able to take in. The brazen altar that was before the Lord was too little to receive the burnt offerings. 1 Kings viii. 64.

6. To be affected by something; to suffer; to be subjected to; as, to receive pleasure or pain; to receive a wound or a blow; to receive damage. Against his will he can receive no harm. Milton.

7. To take from a thief, as goods known to be stolen.

8. (Lawn Tennis)

Defn: To bat back (the ball) when served. Receiving ship, one on board of which newly recruited sailors are received, and kept till drafted for service.

Syn. — To accept; take; allow; hold; retain; admit. — Receive, Accept. To receive describes simply the act of taking. To accept denotes the taking with approval, or for the purposes for which a thing is offered. Thus, we receive a letter when it comes to hand; we receive news when it reaches us; we accept a present when it is offered; we accept an invitation to dine with a friend. Who, if we knew What we receive, would either not accept Life offered, or soon beg to lay it down. Milton.

RECEIVE Re*ceive", v. i.

1. To receive visitors; to be at home to receive calls; as, she receives on Tuesdays.

2. (Lawn Tennis)

Defn: To return, or bat back, the ball when served; as, it is your turn to receive.

RECEIVEDNESS Re*ceiv"ed*ness, n.

Defn: The state or quality of being received, accepted, or current; as, the receivedness of an opinion. Boyle.

RECEIVER Re*ceiv"er, n. Etym: [Cf. F. receveur.]

1. One who takes or receives in any manner.

2. (Law)

Defn: A person appointed, ordinarily by a court, to receive, and hold in trust, money or other property which is the subject of litigation, pending the suit; a person appointed to take charge of the estate and effects of a corporation, and to do other acts necessary to winding up its affairs, in certain cases. Bouvier.

3. One who takes or buys stolen goods from a thief, knowing them to be stolen. Blackstone.

4. (Chem.) (a) A vessel connected with an alembic, a retort, or the like, for receiving and condensing the product of distillation. (b) A vessel for receiving and containing gases.

5. (Pneumatics)

Defn: The glass vessel in which the vacuum is produced, and the objects of experiment are put, in experiments with an air pump. Cf. Bell jar, and see Illust. of Air pump.

6. (Steam Engine) (a) A vessel for receiving the exhaust steam from the high-pressure cylinder before it enters the low-pressure cylinder, in a compound engine. (b) A capacious vessel for receiving steam from a distant boiler, and supplying it dry to an engine.

7. That portion of a telephonic apparatus, or similar system, at which the message is received and made audible; — opposed to transmitter. Exhausted receiver (Physics), a receiver, as that used with the air pump, from which the air has been withdrawn; a vessel the interior of which is a more or less complete vacuum.

RECEIVER'S CERTIFICATE Re*ceiv"er's cer*tif"i*cate.

Defn: An acknowledgement of indebtedness made by a receiver under order of court to obtain funds for the preservation of the assets held by him, as for operating a railroad. Receivers' certificates are ordinarily a first lien on the assets, prior to that of bonds or other securities.

RECEIVERSHIP Re*ceiv"er*ship, n.

Defn: The state or office of a receiver.

RECELEBRATE Re*cel"e*brate, v. t.

Defn: To celebrate again, or anew. — Re*cel`e*bra"tion, n.

RECENCY Re"cen*cy, n. Etym: [LL. recentia, fr. L. recens. See Recent.]

Defn: The state or quality of being recent; newness; new state; late origin; lateness in time; freshness; as, the recency of a transaction, of a wound, etc.

RECENSE Re*cense", v. t. Etym: [L. recensere; pref. re- again + censere to value, estimate: cf. F. recenser.]

Defn: To review; to revise. [R.] Bentley.

RECENSION Re*cen"sion, n. Etym: [L. recensio: cf. F. recension.]

1. The act of reviewing or revising; review; examination; enumeration. Barrow.

2. Specifically, the review of a text (as of an ancient author) by an editor; critical revisal and establishment.

3. The result of such a work; a text established by critical revision; an edited version.

RECENSIONIST Re*cen"sion*ist, n.

Defn: One who makes recensions; specifically, a critical editor.

RECENT Re"cent, a. Etym: [L. recens, -entis: cf. F. récent.]

1. Of late origin, existence, or occurrence; lately come; not of remote date, antiquated style, or the like; not already known, familiar, worn out, trite, etc.; fresh; novel; new; modern; as, recent news. The ancients were of opinion, that a considerable portion of that country [Egypt] was recent, and formed out of the mud discharged into the neighboring sea by the Nile. Woodward.

2. (Geol.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the present or existing epoch; as, recent shells.

RECENTER Re*cen"ter, v. t. Etym: [Pref. re- + center.]

Defn: To center again; to restore to the center. Coleridge.

RECENTLY Re"cent*ly, adv.

Defn: Newly; lately; freshly; not long since; as, advices recently received.

RECENTNESS Re"cent*ness, n.

Defn: Quality or state of being recent.

RECEPTACLE Re*cep"ta*cle, n. Etym: [F. réceptacle, L. receptaculum, fr. receptare, v. intens. fr. recipere to receive. See Receive.]

1. That which serves, or is used, fro receiving and containing something, as a basket, a vase, a bag, a reservoir; a repository. O sacred receptacle of my joys! Shak.

2. (Bot.) (a) The apex of the flower stalk, from which the organs of the flower grow, or into which they are inserted. See Illust. of Flower, and Ovary. (b) The dilated apex of a pedicel which serves as a common support to a head of flowers. (c) An intercellular cavity containing oil or resin or other matters. (d) A special branch which bears the fructification in many cryptogamous plants.

RECEPTACULAR Rec`ep*tac"u*lar, a. Etym: [Cf. F. réceptaculaire.] (Bot.)

Defn: Pertaining to the receptacle, or growing on it; as, the receptacular chaff or scales in the sunflower.

RECEPTACULUM Rec`ep*tac"u*lum, n.; pl. Receptacula. Etym: [L.] (Anat.)

Defn: A receptacle; as, the receptaculum of the chyle.

RECEPTARY Rec"ep*ta*ry, a.

Defn: Generally or popularly admitted or received. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

RECEPTARY Rec"ep*ta*ry, n.

Defn: That which is received. [Obs.] "Receptaries of philosophy." Sir T. Browne.

RECEPTIBILITY Re*cep`ti*bil"i*ty, n.

1. The quality or state of being receptible; receivableness.

2. A receptible thing. [R.] Glanvill.

RECEPTIBLE Re*cep"ti*ble, a. Etym: [L. receptibilis.]

Defn: Such as may be received; receivable.

RECEPTION Re*cep"tion, n. Etym: [F. réception, L. receptio, fr. recipere, receptum. See Receive.]

1. The act of receiving; receipt; admission; as, the reception of food into the stomach; the reception of a letter; the reception of sensation or ideas; reception of evidence.

2. The state of being received.

3. The act or manner of receiving, esp. of receiving visitors; entertainment; hence, an occasion or ceremony of receiving guests; as, a hearty reception; an elaborate reception. What reception a poem may find. Goldsmith.

4. Acceptance, as of an opinion or doctrine. Philosophers who have quitted the popular doctrines of their countries have fallen into as extravagant opinions as even common reception countenanced. Locke.

5. A retaking; a recovery. [Obs.] Bacon.

RECEPTIVE Re*cep"tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. réceptif. See Receive.]

Defn: Having the quality of receiving; able or inclined to take in, absorb, hold, or contain; receiving or containing; as, a receptive mind. Imaginary space is receptive of all bodies. Glanvill.

RECEPTIVENESS Re*cep"tive*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being receptive.

RECEPTIVITY Rec`ep*tiv"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. réceptivité.]

1. The state or quality of being receptive.

2. (Kantian Philos.)

Defn: The power or capacity of receiving impressions, as those of the external senses.

RECEPTORY Re*cep"to*ry, n. Etym: [Cf. F. receptorium a place of shelter.]

Defn: Receptacle. [Obs.] Holland.

RECESS Re*cess", n. Etym: [L. recessus, fr. recedere, recessum. See Recede.]

1. A withdrawing or retiring; a moving back; retreat; as, the recess of the tides. Every degree of ignorance being so far a recess and degradation from rationality. South. My recess hath given them confidence that I may be conquered. Eikon Basilike.

2. The state of being withdrawn; seclusion; privacy. In the recess of the jury they are to consider the evidence. Sir M. Hale. Good verse recess and solitude requires. Dryden.

3. Remission or suspension of business or procedure; intermission, as of a legislative body, court, or school. The recess of . . . Parliament lasted six weeks. Macaulay.

4. Part of a room formed by the receding of the wall, as an alcove, niche, etc. A bed which stood in a deep recess. W. Irving.

5. A place of retirement, retreat, secrecy, or seclusion. Departure from his happy place, our sweet Recess, and only consolation left. Milton.

6. Secret or abstruse part; as, the difficulties and recesses of science. I. Watts.

7. (Bot. & Zoöl.)

Defn: A sinus.

RECESS Re*cess", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Recessed; p. pr. & vb. n. Recessing.]

Defn: To make a recess in; as, to recess a wall.

RECESS Re*cess", n. Etym: [G.]

Defn: A decree of the imperial diet of the old German empire. Brande & C.

RECESSED Re*cessed", a.

1. Having a recess or recesses; as, a recessed arch or wall.

2. Withdrawn; secluded. [R.] "Comfortably recessed from curious impertinents." Miss Edgeworth. Recessed arch (Arch.), one of a series of arches constructed one within another so as to correspond with splayed jambs of a doorway, or the like.

RECESSION Re*ces"sion, n. Etym: [L. recessio, fr. recedere, recessum. See Recede.]