Chapter CCCLX: Prologue (11)

Defn: The challenge of a French sentinel, or patrol; -- used like the English challenge: "Who comes there" To be on the qui vive, to be on guard; to be watchful and alert, like a sentinel.

QUIXOTIC Quix*ot"ic, a.

Defn: Like Don Quixote; romantic to extravagance; absurdly chivalric; apt to be deluded. "Feats of quixotic gallantry." Prescott.

QUIXOTICALLY Quix*ot"ic*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In a quixotic way.

QUIXOTISM Quix"ot*ism, n.

Defn: That form of delusion which leads to extravagant and absurd undertakings or sacrifices in obedience to a morbidly romantic ideal of duty or honor, as illustrated by the exploits of Don Quixote in knight-errantry.

QUIXOTRY Quix"ot*ry, n.

Defn: Quixotism; visionary schemes.

QUIZ Quiz, n. Etym: [It is said that Daly, the manager of a Dublin playhouse, laid a wager that a new word of no meaning should be the common talk and puzzle of the city in twenty-fours. In consequence of this the letters q u i z were chalked by him on all the walls of Dublin, with an effect that won the wager. Perhaps, however, originally a variant of whiz, and formerly the name of a popular game.]

1. A riddle or obscure question; an enigma; a ridiculous hoax.

2. One who quizzes others; as, he is a great quiz.

3. An odd or absurd fellow. Smart. Thackeray.

4. An exercise, or a course of exercises, conducted as a coaching or as an examination. [Cant, U.S.]

QUIZ Quiz, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Quizzed; p. pr. & vb. n. Quizzing.]

1. To puzzle; to banter; to chaff or mock with pretended seriousness of discourse; to make sport of, as by obscure questions. He quizzed unmercifully all the men in the room. Thackeray.

2. To peer at; to eye suspiciously or mockingly.

3. To instruct in or by a quiz. See Quiz, n., 4. [U.S.] Quizzing glass, a small eyeglass.

QUIZ Quiz, v. i.

Defn: To conduct a quiz. See Quiz, n., 4. [U.S.]

QUIZZER Quiz"zer, n.

Defn: One who quizzes; a quiz.

QUIZZICAL Quiz"zic*al, a.

Defn: Relating to quizzing: given to quizzing; of the nature of a quiz; farcical; sportive. -- Quiz"zic*al*ly, adv.

QUIZZISM Quiz"zism, n.

Defn: The act or habit of quizzing.

QUOB Quob, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Quaver.] [Written also quop and quab.]

Defn: To throb; to quiver. [Local & Vulgar]

QUOD Quod, n. Etym: [For quad, abbrev. of quadrangle.]

Defn: A quadrangle or court, as of a prison; hence, a prison. [Slang] "Flogged or whipped in quod." T. Hughes.

QUOD Quod, v.

Defn: Quoth; said. See Quoth. [Obs.] "Let be," quod he, "it shall not be." Chaucer.

QUODDIES Quod"dies, n. pl.

Defn: Herring taken and cured or smoked near Quoddy Head, Maine, or near the entrance of Passamaquoddy Ray.

QUODLIBET Quod"li*bet, n. Etym: [L., what you please.]

1. A nice point; a subtilty; a debatable point. These are your quodlibets, but no learning. P. Fletcher.

2. (Mus.)

Defn: A medley improvised by several performers.

QUODLIBETARIAN Quod"lib*e*ta"ri*an, n.

Defn: One who discusses any subject at pleasure.

QUODLIBETICAL Quod"li*bet"ic*al, a.

Defn: Not restricted to a particular subject; discussed for curiosity or entertainment. -- Quod`li*bet"ic*al*ly, adv.

QUOIF Quoif, n. & v. t.

Defn: See Coif. Shak.

QUOIFFURE Quoif"fure, n.

Defn: See Coiffure.

QUOIL Quoil, n.

Defn: See Coil. [Obs.]

QUOIN Quoin, n. Etym: [See Coin, and cf. Coigne.]

1. (Arch.)

Defn: Originally, a solid exterior angle, as of a building; now, commonly, one of the selected pieces of material by which the corner is marked.

Note: In stone, the quoins consist of blocks larger than those used in the rest of the building, and cut to dimension. In brickwork, quoins consist of groups or masses of brick laid together, and in a certain imitation of quoins of stone.

2. A wedgelike piece of stone, wood metal, or other material, used for various purposes, as: (a) (Masonry)

Defn: to support and steady a stone. (b) (Gun.) To support the breech of a cannon. (c) (Print.) To wedge or lock up a form within a chase. (d) (Naut.) To prevent casks from rolling. Hollow quoin. See under Hollow. -- Quoin post (Canals), the post of a lock gate which abuts against the wall.

QUOIT Quoit, n. Etym: [OE. coite; cf. OF. coitier to spur, press, (assumed) LL. coctare, fr. L. coquere, coctum, to cook, burn, vex, harass, E. cook, also W. coete a quoit.]

1. (a) A flattened ring-shaped piece of iron, to be pitched at a fixed object in play; hence, any heavy flat missile used for the same purpose, as a stone, piece of iron, etc. (b) pl.

Defn: A game played with quoits. Shak.

2. The discus of the ancients. See Discus.

3. A cromlech. [Prov. Eng.] J. Morley.

QUOIT Quoit, v. i.

Defn: To throw quoits; to play at quoits. To quoit, to run, and steeds and chariots drive. Dryden.

QUOIT Quoit, v. t.

Defn: To throw; to pitch. [Obs. or R.] Shak.

QUOKE Quoke, obs.

Defn: imp. of Quake. Chaucer.

QUOLL Quoll, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A marsupial of Australia (Dasyurus macrurus), about the size of a cat.

QUONDAM Quon"dam, a. Etym: [L., formerly.]

Defn: Having been formerly; former; sometime. "This is the quondam king." Shak.

QUONDAM Quon"dam, n.

Defn: A person dismissed or ejected from a position. [R.] "Make them quondams; . . . cast them out of their office." Latimer.

QUOOK Quook,

Defn: imp. of Quake. [Obs.] Spenser.

QUOP Quop, v. i.

Defn: See Quob.

QUORUM Quo"rum, n. Etym: [L., of whom, gen. pl. of qui who, akin to E. who. See the Note below.]

Defn: Such a number of the officers or members of any body as is competent by law or constitution to transact business; as, a quorum of the House of Representatives; a constitutional quorum was not present.

Note: The term arose from the Latin words, Quorum aliquem vestrum . . . unum esse volumus (of whom we wish some one of you to be one), which were used in the commission formerly issued to justices of the peace in England, by which commission it was directed that no business of certain kinds should be done without the presence of one or more of certain justices specially designated. Justice of the peace and of the quorum designates a class of justices of the peace in some of the United States.

QUOTA Quo"ta, n. Etym: [LL., fr. L. quota (sc. pars), fr.quotus which or what in number, of what number, how many, fr. quot how many, akin to quis, qui, who: cf. It. quota a share. See Who.]

Defn: A proportional part or share; the share or proportion assigned to each in a division. "Quota of troops and money." Motley.

QUOTABLE Quot"a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable or worthy of being quoted; as, a quotable writer; a quotable sentence. -- Quot`a*bit"i*ty, n. Poe.

QUOTATION Quo*ta"tion, n. Etym: [From Quote.]

1. The act of quoting or citing.

2. That which is quoted or cited; a part of a book or writing named, repeated, or adduced as evidence or illustration. Locke.

3. (Com.)

Defn: The naming or publishing of the current price of stocks, bonds, or any commodity; also the price named.

4. Quota; share. [Obs.]

5. (print.)

Defn: A piece of hollow type metal, lower than type, and measuring two or more pica ems in length and breadth, used in the blank spaces at the beginning and end of chapters, etc. Quotation marks (Print.), two inverted commas placed at the beginning, and two apostrophes at the end, of a passage quoted from an author in his own words.

QUOTATIONIST Quo*ta"tion*ist n.

Defn: One who makes, or is given to making, quotations. The narrow intellectuals of quotationists. Milton.

QUOTE Quote, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Quoted; p. pr. & vb. n. Quoting.] Etym: [OF. quoter, F. coter to letter, number, to quote, LL. quotare to divide into chapters and verses, fr. L. quotus. See Quota.] [Formerly written also cote.]

1. To cite, as a passage from some author; to name, repeat, or adduce, as a passage from an author or speaker, by way of authority or illustration; as, to quote a passage from Homer.

2. To cite a passage from; to name as the authority for a statement or an opinion; as, to quote Shakespeare.

3. (Com.)

Defn: To name the current price of.

4. To notice; to observe; to examine. [Obs.] Shak.

5. To set down, as in writing. [Obs.] "He's quoted for a most perfidious slave." Shak.

Syn. -- To cite; name; adduce; repeat. Quote, Cite. To cite was originally to call into court as a witness, etc., and hence denotes bringing forward any thing or person as evidence. Quote usually signifies to reproduce another's words; it is also used to indicate an appeal to some one as an authority, without adducing his exact words.

QUOTE Quote, n.

Defn: A note upon an author. [Obs.] Cotgrave.

QUOTER Quot"er, n.

Defn: One who quotes the words of another.

QUOTH Quoth, v. t. Etym: [AS.cweedhan, imp cwæedh, pl. cwædon; akin to OS. queedhan, OHG. quethan, quedan, Icel. kveedha, Goth. qiþan. sq. root22. Cf. Bequeath.]

Defn: Said; spoke; uttered; -- used only in the first and third persons in the past tenses, and always followed by its nominative, the word or words said being the object; as, quoth I. quoth he. "Let me not live, quoth he." Shak.

QUOTHA Quoth"a, interj. Etym: [For quoth'a, said he, 'a being corrupted from he.]

Defn: Indeed; forsooth. To affront the blessed hillside drabs and thieves With mended morals, quotha, -- fine new lives ! Mrs. Browning.

QUOTIDIAN Quo*tid"i*an a. Etym: [OE. cotidian, L. quotidianus, fr. quotidie daily; quotus how many + dies day: cf. OF. cotidien, F. quotidien. See Quota, Deity.]

Defn: Occurring or returning daily; as, a quotidian fever.

QUOTIDIAN Quo*tid"i*an, n.

Defn: Anything returning daily; especially (Med.), an intermittent fever or ague which returns every day. Milton.

QUOTIENT Quo"tient, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. quoties how often, how many times, fr. quot how many. See Quota.]

1. (Arith.)

Defn: The number resulting from the division of one number by another, and showing how often a less number is contained in a greater; thus, the quotient of twelve divided by four is three.

2. (Higher Alg.)

Defn: The result of any process inverse to multiplication. See the Note under Multiplication.

QUOTIETY Quo*ti"e*ty, n. Etym: [L.quotus of what number, quot how many.] (Scholastic Philos.)

Defn: The relation of an object to number. Krauth-Fleming.

QUOTUM Quo"tum n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. quotus of what number. See Quota.]

Defn: Part or proportion; quota. [R.] "A very small quotum." Max Müller.

QUO WARRANTO Quo" war*ran"to. Etym: [So called from the Law L. words quo warranto (by what authority), in the original Latin form of the writ. See Which, and Warrant.] (Law)

Defn: A writ brought before a proper tribunal, to inquire by what warrant a person or a corporation acts, or exercises certain powers. Blackstone.

Note: An information in the nature of a quo warranto is now common as a substitute for the writ. Wharton.

QURAN Qu*ran", n.

Defn: See Koran.

R R (är).

Defn: R, the eighteenth letter of the English alphabet, is a vocal consonant. It is sometimes called a semivowel, and a liquid. See Guide to Pronunciation, §§ 178, 179, and 250-254. "R is the dog's letter and hurreth in the sound." B. Jonson.

In words derived from the Greek language the letter h is generally written after r to represent the aspirated sound of the Greek "r, but does not affect the pronunciation of the English word, as rhapsody, rhetoric.

The English letter derives its form from the Greek through the Latin, the Greek letter being derived from the Phonician, which, it is believed, is ultimately of Egyptian origin. Etymologically, R is most closely related to l, s, and n; as in bandore, mandole; purple, L. purpura; E. chapter, F. chapitre, L. capitulum; E. was, were; hare, G. hase; E. order, F. ordre, L. ordo, ordinis; E. coffer, coffin.

The three Rs, a jocose expression for reading, (w)riting, and (a)rithmetic, -- the fundamentals of an education.

RA- Ra-.

Defn: A prefix, from the Latin re and ad combined, coming to us through the French and Italian. See Re-, and Ad-.

RA Ra (rä), n.

Defn: A roe; a deer. [Obs.] Chaucer.

RAASH Raash (räsh), n. [Cf. Ar. ra'ash trembling, tremor.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The electric catfish. [Written also raasch.]

RAB Rab (rab), n.

Defn: A rod or stick used by masons in mixing hair with mortar.

RABAT Rab"at (rab"at), n. [See Rabot.]

Defn: A polishing material made of potter's clay that has failed in baking.

RABAT Ra`bat", n. [F. Cf. Rabato.] (Eccl.) (a) A clerical linen collar. (b) A kind of clerical scarf fitted to a collar; as, a black silk rabat.

RABATE Ra*bate" (ra*bat"), v. t. [F. rabattre to beat down; pref. re- + abattre. See Abate, and cf. Rebate, v.] (Falconry)

Defn: To recover to the fist, as a hawk. [Obs.]

RABATINE Rab"a*tine (rab"a*tin), n. [See Rabato.]

Defn: A collar or cape. [Obs.] Sir W. Scott.

RABATO Ra*ba"to (ra*ba"to), n. [F. rabat, fr. rabattre. See Rabate.]

Defn: A kind of ruff for the neck; a turned-down collar; a rebato. [Obs.] Shak.

RABBATE Rab*bate" (rab*bat"), v. t. [See Rabate.]

Defn: To abate or diminish. [Obs.] --n.

Defn: Abatement. [Obs.]

RABBET Rab"bet (rab"bet), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rabbeted; p. pr. & vb. n. Rabbeting.] [F. raboter to plane, plane down,rabot a plane; pref. re- re- + OF. abouter, aboter. See Abut, and cf. Rebut.]

1. To cut a rabbet in; to furnish with a rabbet.

2. To unite the edges of, as boards, etc., in a rabbet joint.

RABBET Rab"bet, n. [See Rabbet, v., and cf. Rebate, n.]

1. (Carp.) A longitudinal channel, groove, or recess cut out of the edge or face of any body; especially, one intended to receive another member, so as to break or cover the joint, or more easily to hold the members in place; thus, the groove cut for a panel, for a pane of glass, or for a door, is a rabbet, or rebate.

2. Same as Rabbet joint, below.

Rabbet joint (Carp.), a joint formed by fitting together rabbeted boards or timbers; -- called also rabbet. -- Rabbet plane, a joiner's plane for cutting a rabbet. Moxon.

RABBI Rab"bi (rab"bi or -bi; 277), n.; pl. Rabbis (-biz or -biz) or Rabbies. [L., fr. Gr. "rabbi`, Heb. rabi my master, from rab master, lord, teacher, akin to Ar. rabb.]

Defn: Master; lord; teacher; -- a Jewish title of respect or honor for a teacher or doctor of the law. "The gravest rabbies." Milton.

Be not ye called Rabbi, for one is your Master, even Christ, and all ye are brethren. Matt. xxiii. 8.

RABBIN Rab"bin (rab"bin), n. [F.]

Defn: Same as Rabbi.

RABBINIC; RABBINICAL Rab*bin"ic (rab*bin"ik), Rab*bin"ic*al (-i*kal), a. [Cf. F. rabbinique.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to the rabbins or rabbis, or pertaining to the opinions, learning, or language of the rabbins. "Comments staler than rabbinic." Lowell.

We will not buy your rabbinical fumes. Milton.

RABBINIC Rab*bin"ic (rab*bin"ik), n.

Defn: The language or dialect of the rabbins; the later Hebrew.

RABBINICALLY Rab*bin"ic*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In a rabbinical manner; after the manner of the rabbins.

RABBINISM Rab"bin*ism (rab"bin*iz'm), n. [Cf. F. rabbinisme.]

1. A rabbinic expression or phraseology; a peculiarity of the language of the rabbins.

2. The teachings and traditions of the rabbins.

RABBINIST Rab"bin*ist, n. [Cf. F. rabbiniste.]

Defn: One among the Jews who adhered to the Talmud and the traditions of the rabbins, in opposition to the Karaites, who rejected the traditions.

RABBINITE Rab"bin*ite (-it), n.

Defn: Same as Rabbinist.

RABBITING Rab"bit*ing, n.

Defn: The hunting of rabbits. T. Hughes.

RABBITRY Rab"bit*ry (-ry), n.

Defn: A place where rabbits are kept; especially, a collection of hutches for tame rabbits.

RABBLE Rab"ble (rab"b'l), n. [Etymol. uncertain.] (Iron Manuf.)

Defn: An iron bar, with the end bent, used in stirring or skimming molten iron in the process of puddling.

RABBLE Rab"ble, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to a rabble; like, or suited to, a rabble; disorderly; vulgar. [R.] Dryden.

RABBLE Rab"ble, n. [Probably named from the noise made by it (see Rabble, v. i.); cf. D. rapalje rabble, OF. & Prov. F. rapaille.]

1. A tumultuous crowd of vulgar, noisy people; a mob; a confused, disorderly throng.

I saw, I say, come out of London, even unto the presence of the prince, a great rabble of mean and light persons. Ascham.

Jupiter, Mercury, Bacchus, Venus, Mars, and the whole rabble of licentious deities. Bp. Warburton.

2. A confused, incoherent discourse; a medley of voices; a chatter.

The rabble, the lowest class of people, without reference to an assembly; the dregs of the people. "The rabble call him "lord.'" Shak.

RABBLE Rab"ble, v. i. [Akin to D. rabbelen, Prov. G. rabbeln, to prattle, to chatter: cf. L. rabula a brawling advocate, a pettifogger, fr. rabere to rave. Cf. Rage.]

Defn: To speak in a confused manner. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

RABBLE Rab"ble, v. t.

Defn: To stir or skim with a rabble, as molten iron.

RABBLE Rab"ble, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rabbled (-b'ld); p. pr. & vb. n. Rabbling (-bling).]

1. To insult, or assault, by a mob; to mob; as, to rabble a curate. Macaulay.

The bishops' carriages were stopped and the prelates themselves rabbled on their way to the house. J. R. Green.

2. To utter glibly and incoherently; to mouth without intelligence. [Obs. or Scot.] Foxe.

3. To rumple; to crumple. [Scot.]

RABBLEMENT Rab"ble*ment (rab"b'l*ment), n.

Defn: A tumultuous crowd of low people; a rabble. "Rude rablement." Spenser.

And still, as he refused it, the rabblement hooted. Shak.

RABBLER Rab"bler (-bler), n. [See 2d Rabble.] (Mech.)

Defn: A scraping tool for smoothing metal.

RABBLE-ROUT Rab"ble-rout` (-b'l-rout`), n.

Defn: A tumultuous crowd; a rabble; a noisy throng.

RABDOIDAL Rab*doid"al (rab*doid"al), a. [Gr. "ra`bdos a rod + -oid + -al.] (Anat.)

Defn: See Sagittal. [Written also rhabdoidal.]

RABDOLOGY Rab*dol"o*gy (-dol"o*jy), n. [Gr. "ra`bdos rod, stick + -logy: cf. F. rabdologie.]

Defn: The method or art of performing arithmetical operations by means of Napier's bones. See Napier's bones. [Written also rhabdology.]

RABDOMANCY Rab"do*man`cy (rab"do*man`sy), n. [Gr. "ra`bdos rod + -mancy.]

Defn: Divination by means of rods or wands. [Written also rhabdomancy.] Sir T. Browne.

RABID Rab"id (rab"id), a. [L. rabidus, from rabere to rave. See Rage, n.]

1. Furious; raging; extremely violent.

The rabid flight Of winds that ruin ships. Chapman.

2. Extreme, unreasonable, or fanatical in opinion; excessively zealous; as, a rabid socialist.

3. Affected with the distemper called rabies; mad; as, a rabid dog or fox.

4. (Med.) Of or pertaining to rabies, or hydrophobia; as, rabid virus.

RABIDITY Ra*bid"i*ty (ra*bid"i*ty), n.

Defn: Rabidness; furiousness.

RABIDLY Rab"id*ly (rab"id*ly), adv.

Defn: In a rabid manner; with extreme violence.

RABIDNESS Rab"id*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being rabid.

RABIES Ra"bi*es (ra"bi*ez), n. [L. See Rage, n.]

Defn: Same as Hydrophobia (b); canine madness.

RABINET Rab"i*net (rab"i*net), n. [Etymol. uncertain.] (Mil.)

Defn: A kind of small ordnance formerly in use. [Written also rabanet.] Ainsworth.

RABIOUS Ra"bi*ous (ra"bi*us), a.

Defn: Fierce. [Obs.] Daniel.

RABOT Ra"bot (ra"bot), n. [F.]

Defn: A rubber of hard wood used in smoothing marble to be polished. Knight.

RACA Ra"ca (ra"ka), a. [Gr. "raka`, from Chaldee reka.]

Defn: A term of reproach used by the Jews of our Savior's time, meaning "worthless."

Whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council. Matt. v. 22.

RACAHOUT Ra`ca`hout" (ra`ka`oo"), n. [F. racahout, probably fr. Ar. raqaut.]

Defn: A preparation from acorns used by the Arabs as a substitute for chocolate, and also as a beverage for invalids.

RACCOON Rac*coon" (rak*koon"), n. [F. raton, prop., a little rat, fr. rat rat, perhaps of German origin. See Rat.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A North American nocturnal carnivore (Procyon lotor) allied to the bears, but much smaller, and having a long, full tail, banded with black and gray. Its body is gray, varied with black and white. Called also coon, and mapach.

Raccoon dog (Zoöl.), the tanate. -- Raccoon fox (Zoöl.), the cacomixle.

RACE Race, n. Etym: [OF. raïz, L. radix, -icis. See Radix.]

Defn: A root. "A race or two of ginger." Shak. Race ginger, ginger in the root, or not pulverized.

RACE Race, n. Etym: [F. race; cf. Pr. & Sp. raza, It. razza; all from OHG. reiza line, akin to E. write. See Write.]

1. The descendants of a common ancestor; a family, tribe, people, or nation, believed or presumed to belong to the same stock; a lineage; a breed. The whole race of mankind. Shak. Whence the long race of Alban fathers come. Dryden.

Note: Naturalists and ehnographers divide mankind into several distinct varieties, or races. Cuvier refers them all to three, Pritchard enumerates seven, Agassiz eight, Pickering describes eleven. One of the common classifications is that of Blumenbach, who makes five races: the Caucasian, or white race, to which belong the greater part of the European nations and those of Western Asia; the Mongolian, or yellow race, occupying Tartary, China, Japan, etc.; the Ethiopian, or negro race, occupying most of Africa (except the north), Australia, Papua, and other Pacific Islands; the American, or red race, comprising the Indians of North and South America; and the Malayan, or brown race, which occupies the islands of the Indian Archipelago, etc. Many recent writers classify the Malay and American races as branches of the Mongolian. See Illustration in Appendix.

2. Company; herd; breed. For do but note a wild and wanton herd, Or race of youthful and unhandled colts, Fetching mad bounds. Shak .

3. (Bot.)

Defn: A variety of such fixed character that it may be propagated by seed.

4. Peculiar flavor, taste, or strength, as of wine; that quality, or assemblage of qualities, which indicates origin or kind, as in wine; hence, characteristic flavor; smack. "A race of heaven." Shak. Is it [the wine] of the right race Massinqer.

5. Hence, characteristic quality or disposition. [Obs.] And now I give my sensual race the rein. Shak. Some . . . great race of fancy or judgment. Sir W. Temple.

Syn. -- Lineage; line; family; house; breed; offspring; progeny; issue.

RACE Race, n. Etym: [OE. ras, res, rees, AS. ræs a rush, running; akin to Icel. ras course, race. sq. root118.]

1. A progress; a course; a movement or progression.

2. Esp., swift progress; rapid course; a running. The flight of many birds is swifter than the race of any beasts. Bacon.

3. Hence: The act or process of running in competition; a contest of speed in any way, as in running, riding, driving, skating, rowing, sailing; in the plural, usually, a meeting for contests in the running of horses; as, he attended the races. The race is not to the swift. Eccl. ix. 11. I wield the gauntlet, and I run the race. Pope.

4. Competitive action of any kind, especially when prolonged; hence, career; course of life. My race of glory run, and race of shame. Milton.

5. A strong or rapid current of water, or the channel or passage for such a current; a powerful current or heavy sea, sometimes produced by the meeting of two tides; as, the Portland Race; the Race of Alderney.

6. The current of water that turns a water wheel, or the channel in which it flows; a mill race.

Note: The part of the channel above the wheel is sometimes called the headrace, the part below, the tailrace.

7. (Mach.)

Defn: A channel or guide along which a shuttle is driven back and forth, as in a loom, sewing machine, etc. Race cloth, a cloth worn by horses in racing, having pockets to hold the weights prescribed. -- Race course. (a) The path, generally circular or elliptical, over which a race is run. (b) Same as Race way, below. -- Race cup, a cup given as a prize to the victor in a race. -- Race glass, a kind of field glass. -- Race horse. (a) A horse that runs in competition; specifically, a horse bred or kept for running races. (b) A breed of horses remarkable for swiftness in running. (c) (Zoöl.) The steamer duck. (d) (Zoöl.) A mantis. -- Race knife, a cutting tool with a blade that is hooked at the point, for marking outlines, on boards or metals, as by a pattern, -- used in shipbuilding. -- Race saddle, a light saddle used in racing. -- Race track. Same as Race course (a), above. -- Race way, the canal for the current that drives a water wheel.

RACE Race, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Raced; p. pr. & vb. n. Racing.]

1. To run swiftly; to contend in a race; as, the animals raced over the ground; the ships raced from port to port.

2. (Steam Mach.)

Defn: To run too fast at times, as a marine engine or screw, when the screw is lifted out of water by the action of a heavy sea.

RACE Race, v. t.

1. To cause to contend in race; to drive at high speed; as, to race horses.

2. To run a race with.

RACEABOUT Race"a*bout`, n. (Naut.)

Defn: A small sloop-rigged racing yacht carrying about six hundred square feet of sail, distinguished from a knockabout by having a short bowsprit.

RACEMATE Ra*ce"mate, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A salt of racemic acid.

RACEMATION Rac`e*ma"tion, n. Etym: [L. racematio a gleaning, fr. racemari to glean, racemus a cluster of grapes. See Raceme.]

1. A cluster or bunch, as of grapes. Sir T. Browne.

2. Cultivation or gathering of clusters of grapes. [R.]

RACEME Ra*ceme", n. Etym: [L. racemus a bunch of berries, a cluster of grapes. See Raisin.] (Bot.)

Defn: A flower cluster with an elongated axis and many one-flowered lateral pedicels, as in the currant and chokecherry. Compound raceme, one having the lower pedicels developed into secondary racemes.

RACEMED Ra*cemed", a. (Bot.)

Defn: Arranged in a raceme, or in racemes.

RACEMIC Ra*ce"mic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. racémique. See Raceme.] (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, an acid found in many kinds of grapes. It is also obtained from tartaric acid, with which it is isomeric, and from sugar, gum, etc., by oxidation. It is a sour white crystalline substance, consisting of a combination of dextrorotatory and levorotatory tartaric acids. Gregory.

RACEMIFEROUS Rac`e*mif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. racemifer bearing clusters; racemus cluster + ferre to bear: cf. F. racémifère.] (Bot.)

Defn: Bearing racemes, as the currant.

RACEMIFORM Ra*cem"i*form, a.

Defn: Having the form of a raceme. Gray.

RACEMOSE Rac"e*mose`, a. Etym: [L. racemosus full of clusters.]

Defn: Resembling a raceme; growing in the form of a raceme; as, (Bot.) racemose berries or flowers; (Anat.) the racemose glands, in which the ducts are branched and clustered like a raceme. Gray.

RACEMOUS Rac"e*mous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. racémeux.]

Defn: See Racemose.

RACEMULE Rac"e*mule, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A little raceme.

RACEMULOSE Ra*cem"u*lose`, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Growing in very small racemes.

RACER Ra"cer, n.

1. One who, or that which, races, or contends in a race; esp., a race horse. And bade the nimblest racer seize the prize. Pope.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The common American black snake.

3. (Mil.)

Defn: One of the circular iron or steel rails on which the chassis of a heavy gun is turned.

RACE SUICIDE Race suicide.

Defn: The voluntary failure of the members of a race or people to have a number of children sufficient to keep the birth rate equal to the death rate.

RACH; RACHE Rach, Rache, n. Etym: [AS.ræcc; akin to Icel. rakki.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A dog that pursued his prey by scent, as distinguished from the greyhound.[Obs.]

RACHIALGIA Ra"chi*al"gi*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)

Defn: A painful affection of the spine; especially, Pott's disease; also, formerly, lead colic.

RACHIDIAN Ra*chid"i*an, a. Etym: [See Rachis.] (Anat. & Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the rachis; spinal; vertebral. Same as Rhachidian.

RACHILLA Ra*chil"la, n. Etym: [NL.]

Defn: Same as Rhachilla.

RACHIODONT Ra"chi*o*dont, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Rhachiodont.

RACHIS Ra"chis, n.; pl. E. Rachises, L. Rachides. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. [Written also rhachis.]

1. (Anat.)

Defn: The spine; the vertebral column.

2. (Bot. & Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Rhachis.

RACHITIC Ra*chit"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. rachitique. See Rachitis.] (Med.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to rachitis; affected by rachitis; rickety.

RACHITIS Ra*chi"tis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. [Written also rhachitis.]

1. (Med.)

Defn: Literally, inflammation of the spine, but commonly applied to the rickets. See Rickets.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: A disease which produces abortion in the fruit or seeds. Henslow.

RACHITOME Ra"chi*tome, n. Etym: [F., fr. Gr.

Defn: A dissecting instrument for opening the spinal canal. [Written also rachiotome.]

RACIAL Ra"cial, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to a race or family of men; as, the racial complexion.

RACILY Ra"ci*ly, adv.

Defn: In a racy manner.

RACINESS Ra"ci*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being racy; peculiar and piquant flavor. The general characteristics of his [Cobbett's] style were perspicuity, unequaled and inimitable; . . . a purity always simple, and raciness often elegant. London Times.

RACING Ra"cing,

Defn: a. & n. from Race, v. t. & i. Racing crab (Zoöl.), an ocypodian.

RACK Rack, n.

Defn: Same as Arrack.

RACK Rack, n. Etym: [AS. hracca neck, hinder part of the head; cf. AS. hraca throat, G. rachen throat, E. retch.]

Defn: The neck and spine of a fore quarter of veal or mutton.

RACK Rack, n. Etym: [See Wreck.]

Defn: A wreck; destruction. [Obs., except in a few phrases.] Rack and ruin, destruction; utter ruin. [Colloq.] -- To go to rack, to perish; to be destroyed. [Colloq.] "All goes to rack." Pepys.

RACK Rack, n. Etym: [Prob. fr. Icel. rek drift, motion, and akin to reka to drive, and E. wrack, wreck. .]

Defn: Thin, flying, broken clouds, or any portion of floating vapor in the sky. Shak. The winds in the upper region, which move the clouds above, which we call the rack, . . . pass without noise. Bacon. And the night rack came rolling up. C. Kingsley.

RACK Rack, v. i.

Defn: To fly, as vapor or broken clouds.

RACK Rack, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Racked; p. pr. & vb. n. Racking.] Etym: [See Rack that which stretches, or Rock, v.]

Defn: To amble fast, causing a rocking or swaying motion of the body; to pace; -- said of a horse. Fuller.

RACK Rack, n.

Defn: A fast amble.

RACK Rack, v. t. Etym: [Cf. OF. vin raqué squeezed from the dregs of the grapes.]

Defn: To draw off from the lees or sediment, as wine. It is in common practice to draw wine or beer from the lees (which we call racking), whereby it will clarify much the sooner. Bacon. Rack vintage, wine cleansed and drawn from the lees. Cowell.

RACK Rack, n. Etym: [Probably fr. D.rek, rekbank, a rack, rekken to stretch; akin to G. reck, reckbank, a rack, recken to stretch, Dan. række, Sw. räcka, Icel. rekja to spread out, Goth. refrakjan to stretch out; cf. L. porrigere, Gr. Right, a., Ratch.]

1. An instrument or frame used for stretching, extending, retaining, or displaying, something. Specifically: (a) An engine of torture, consisting of a large frame, upon which the body was gradually stretched until, sometimes, the joints were dislocated; -- formerly used judicially for extorting confessions from criminals or suspected persons. During the troubles of the fifteenth century, a rack was introduced into the Tower, and was occasionally used under the plea of political necessity. Macaulay.

(b) An instrument for bending a bow. (c) A grate on which bacon is laid. (d) A frame or device of various construction for holding, and preventing the waste of, hay, grain, etc., supplied to beasts. (e) A frame on which articles are deposited for keeping or arranged for display; as, a clothes rack; a bottle rack, etc. (f) (Naut.) A piece or frame of wood, having several sheaves, through which the running rigging passes; -- called also rack block. Also, a frame to hold shot. (g) (Mining) A frame or table on which ores are separated or washed. (h) A frame fitted to a wagon for carrying hay, straw, or grain on the stalk, or other bulky loads. (i) A distaff.

2. (Mech.)

Defn: A bar with teeth on its face, or edge, to work with those of a wheel, pinion, or worm, which is to drive it or be driven by it.

3. That which is extorted; exaction. [Obs.] Sir E. Sandys. Mangle rack. (Mach.) See under Mangle. n. -- Rack block. (Naut.) See def. 1 (f), above. -- Rack lashing, a lashing or binding where the rope is tightened, and held tight by the use of a small stick of wood twisted around. -- Rack rail (Railroads), a toothed rack, laid as a rail, to afford a hold for teeth on the driving wheel of locomotive for climbing steep gradients, as in ascending a mountain. -- Rack saw, a saw having wide teeth. -- Rack stick, the stick used in a rack lashing. -- To be on the rack, to suffer torture, physical or mental. -- To live at rack and manger, to live on the best at another's expense. [Colloq.] -- To put to the rack, to subject to torture; to torment. A fit of the stone puts a kingto the rack, and makes him as miserable as it does the meanest subject. Sir W. Temple.

RACK Rack, v. t.

1. To extend by the application of force; to stretch or strain; specifically, to stretch on the rack or wheel; to torture by an engine which strains the limbs and pulls the joints. He was racked and miserably tormented. Pope.

2. To torment; to torture; to affect with extreme pain or anguish. Vaunting aloud but racked with deep despair. Milton.

3. To stretch or strain, in a figurative sense; hence, to harass, or oppress by extortion. The landlords there shamefully rack their tenants. Spenser. They [landlords] rack a Scripture simile beyond the true intent thereof. Fuller. Try what my credit can in Venice do; That shall be racked even to the uttermost. Shak.

4. (Mining)

Defn: To wash on a rack, as metals or ore.

5. (Naut.)

Defn: To bind together, as two ropes, with cross turns of yarn, marline, etc. To rack one's brains or wits, to exert them to the utmost for the purpose of accomplishing something.

Syn. -- To torture; torment; rend; tear.

RACKABONES Rack"a*bones`, n.

Defn: A very lean animal, esp. a horse. [Colloq. U. S.]

RACKAROCK Rack"a*rock`, n. [Rack to stretch, strain + a + rock.]

Defn: A Sprengel explosive consisting of potassium chlorate and mono- nitrobenzene.

RACKER Rack"er, n.

1. One who racks.

2. A horse that has a racking gait.

RACKET Rack"et, n. Etym: [F. raquette; cf. Sp. raquets, It. racchetta, which is perhaps for retichetta, and fr. L. rete a net (cf. Reticule); or perh. from the Arabic; cf. Ar. raha the palm of the hand (used at first to strike the ball), and OF. rachette, rasquette, carpus, tarsus.] [Written also racquet.]

1. A thin strip of wood, having the ends brought together, forming a somewhat elliptical hoop, across which a network of catgut or cord is stretched. It is furnished with a handle, and is used for catching or striking a ball in tennis and similar games. Each one [of the Indians] has a bat curved like a crosier, and ending in a racket. Bancroft.

2. A variety of the game of tennis played with peculiar long-handled rackets; -- chiefly in the plural. Chaucer.

3. A snowshoe formed of cords stretched across a long and narrow frame of light wood. [Canada]

4. A broad wooden shoe or patten for a man horse, to enable him to step on marshy or soft ground. Racket court, a court for playing the game of rackets.

RACKET Rack"et, v. t.

Defn: To strike with, or as with, a racket. Poor man [is] racketed from one temptation to another. Hewyt.

RACKET Rack"et, n. Etym: [Gael. racaid a noise, disturbance.]

1. confused, clattering noise; din; noisy talk or sport.

2. A carouse; any reckless dissipation. [Slang]

RACKET Rack"et, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Racketed; p. pr. & vb. n. Racketing.]

1. To make a confused noise or racket.

2. To engage in noisy sport; to frolic. Sterne.

3. To carouse or engage in dissipation. [Slang]

RACKETER Rack"et*er, n.

Defn: One who makes, or engages in, a racket.

RACKETT Rack"ett, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.] (Mus.)

Defn: An old wind instrument of the double bassoon kind, having ventages but not keys.

RACKET-TAIL Rack"et-tail n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of several species of humming birds of the genus Steganura, having two of the tail feathers very long and racket- shaped.

RACKET-TAILED Rack"et-tailed`, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having long and spatulate, or racket-shaped, tail feathers.

RACKETY Rack"et*y, a.

Defn: Making a tumultuous noise.

RACKING Rack"ing, n. (Naut.)

Defn: Spun yarn used in racking ropes.

RACK-RENT Rack"-rent`, n.

Defn: A rent of the full annual value of the tenement, or near it; an excessive or unreasonably high rent. Blackstone.

RACK-RENT Rack"-rent`, v. t.

Defn: To subject to rack-rent, as a farm or tenant.

RACK-RENTER Rack"-rent`er, n.

1. One who is subjected to playing rack-rent.

2. One who exacts rack-rent.

RACKTAIL Rack"tail`, n. (Horol.)

Defn: An arm attached to a swinging notched arc or rack, to let off the striking mechanism of a repeating clock.

RACKWORK Rack"work`, n.

Defn: Any mechanism having a rack, as a rack and pinion.

RACLE Ra"cle, a.

Defn: See Rakel. [Obs.] Chaucer.

RACLENESS Ra"cle*ness, n.

Defn: See Rakelness. [Obs.] Chaucer.

RACONTEUR Ra`con`teur", n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: A relater; a storyteller.

RACOONDA Ra*coon"da, n. Etym: [From a native name.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The coypu.

RACOVIAN Ra*co"vi*an, n. Etym: [From Racow.] (Eccl. Hist.)

Defn: One of a sect of Socinians or Unitarians in Poland.

RACQUET Rac"quet, n.

Defn: See Racket.

RACY Ra"cy, a. [Compar. Racier; superl. Raciest.] Etym: [From Race a tribe, family.]

1. Having a strong flavor indicating origin; of distinct characteristic taste; tasting of the soil; hence, fresh; rich. The racy wine, Late from the mellowing cask restored to light. Pope.

2. Hence: Exciting to the mental taste by a strong or distinctive character of thought or language; peculiar and piquant; fresh and lively. Our raciest, most idiomatic popular word. M. Arnold. Burn's English, though not so racy as his Scotch, is generally correct. H. Coleridge. The rich and racy humor of a natural converser fresh from the plow. Prof. Wilson.

Syn. -- Spicy; spirited; lively; smart; piquant. -- Racy, Spicy. Racy refers primarily to that peculiar flavor which certain wines are supposed to derive from the soil in which the grapes were grown; and hence we call a style or production racy when it "smacks of the soil," or has an uncommon degree of natural freshness and distinctiveness of thought and language. Spicy, when applied, has reference to a spirit and pungency added by art, seasoning the matter like a condiment. It does not, like racy, suggest native peculiarity. A spicy article in a magazine; a spicy retort. Racy in conversation; a racy remark. Rich, racy verses, in which we The soil from which they come, taste, smell, and see. Cowley.

RAD Rad, obs.

Defn: imp. & p. p. of Read, Rede. Spenser.

RADDE Rad"de, obs.

Defn: imp. of Read, Rede. Chaucer.

RADDLE Rad"dle, n. Etym: [Cf. G. räder, rädel, sieve, or perhaps E. reed.]

1. A long, flexible stick, rod, or branch, which is interwoven with others, between upright posts or stakes, in making a kind of hedge or fence.

2. A hedge or fence made with raddles; -- called also raddle hedge. Todd.

3. An instrument consisting of a woodmen bar, with a row of upright pegs set in it, used by domestic weavers to keep the warp of a proper width, and prevent tangling when it is wound upon the beam of the loom.

RADDLE Rad"dle, v. t.

Defn: To interweave or twist together. Raddling or working it up like basket work. De Foe.

RADDLE Rad"dle, n. Etym: [Cf. Ruddle.]

Defn: A red pigment used in marking sheep, and in some mechanical processes; ruddle. "A ruddle of rouge." Thackeray.

RADDLE Rad"dle, v. t.

Defn: To mark or paint with, or as with, raddle. "Whitened and raddled old women." Thackeray.

RADDOCK Rad"dock, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The ruddock. [Prov. Eng.]

RADE Rade, n.

Defn: A raid. [Scot.]

RADEAU Ra`deau", n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: A float; a raft. Three vessels under sail, and one at anchor, above Split Rock, and behind it the radeau Thunderer. W. Irving.

RADIAL Ra"di*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. radial. See Radius.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to a radius or ray; consisting of, or like, radii or rays; radiated; as, (Bot.) radial projections; (Zoöl.) radial vessels or canals; (Anat.) the radial artery. Radial symmetry. (Biol.) See under Symmetry.

RADIALE Ra`di*a"le, n.; pl. Radialia. Etym: [NL. See Radial.]

1. (Anat.)

Defn: The bone or cartilage of the carpus which articulates with the radius and corresponds to the scaphoid bone in man.

2. pl. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Radial plates in the calyx of a crinoid.

RADIAL ENGINE Radial engine. (Mach.)

Defn: An engine, usually an internal-combustion engine of a certain type (the radial type) having several cylinders arranged radially like the spokes of a complete wheel. The semiradial engine has radiating cylinders on only one side of the crank shaft.

RADIALLY Ra"di*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In a radial manner.

RADIAN Ra"di*an, n. Etym: [From Radius.] (Math.)

Defn: An arc of a circle which is equal to the radius, or the angle measured by such an arc.

RADIANCE; RADIANCY Ra"di*ance, Ra"di*an*cy, n.

Defn: The quality of being radiant; brilliancy; effulgence; vivid brightness; as, the radiance of the sun. Girt with omnipotence, with radiance crowned. Milton. What radiancy of glory, What light beyond compare ! Neale.

Syn. -- Luster; brilliancy; splendor; glare; glitter.

RADIANT Ra"di*ant, a. Etym: [L. radians, -antis, p. pr. of radiare to emit rays or beams, fr. radius ray: cf. F. radiant. See Radius, Ray a divergent line.]

1. Emitting or proceeding as from a center; [U.S.] rays; radiating; radiate.

2. Especially, emitting or darting rays of light or heat; issuing in beams or rays; beaming with brightness; emitting a vivid light or splendor; as, the radiant sun. Mark what radiant state she spreads. Milton.

3. Beaming with vivacity and happiness; as, a radiant face.

4. (Her.)

Defn: Giving off rays; -- said of a bearing; as, the sun radiant; a crown radiant.

5. (Bot.)

Defn: Having a raylike appearance, as the large marginal flowers of certain umbelliferous plants; -- said also of the cluster which has such marginal flowers. Radiant energy (Physics), energy given out or transmitted by radiation, as in the case of light and radiant heat. -- Radiant heat, proceeding in right lines, or directly from the heated body, after the manner of light, in distinction from heat conducted or carried by intervening media. -- Radiant point. (Astron.) See Radiant, n., 3.

RADIANT Ra"di*ant, n.

1. (Opt.)

Defn: The luminous point or object from which light emanates; also, a body radiating light brightly.

2. (Geom.)

Defn: A straight line proceeding from a given point, or fixed pole, about which it is conceived to revolve.

3. (Astron.)

Defn: The point in the heavens at which the apparent paths of shooting stars meet, when traced backward, or whence they appear to radiate.

RADIANT ENGINE Radiant engine. (Mach.)

Defn: A semiradial engine. See Radial engine, above.

RADIANTLY Ra"di*ant*ly, adv.

Defn: In a radiant manner; with glittering splendor.

RADIARY Ra"di*a*ry, n. Etym: [Cf. F. radiaire.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A radiate. [Obs.]

RADIATA Ra`di*a"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. radiatus, p. p. See Radiate.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: An extensive artificial group of invertebrates, having all the parts arranged radially around the vertical axis of the body, and the various organs repeated symmetrically in each ray or spheromere.

Note: It includes the coelenterates and the echinoderms. Formerly, the group was supposed to be a natural one, and was considered one of the grand divisions of the animal kingdom.

RADIATE Ra"di*ate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Radiated; p. pr. & vb. n. Radiating.] Etym: [L. radiatus, p. p. of radiare to furnish with spokes or rays, to radiate, fr. radius. See Radius, Ray a divergent line.]

1. To emit rays; to be radiant; to shine. Virtues shine more clear In them [kings], and radiant like the sun at noon. Howell.

2. To proceed in direct lines from a point or surface; to issue in rays, as light or heat. Light radiates from luminous bodies directly to our eyes. Locke.

RADIATE Ra"di*ate, v. t.

1. To emit or send out in direct lines from a point or points; as, to radiate heat.

2. To enlighten; to illuminate; to shed light or brightness on; to irradiate. [R.]

RADIATE Ra"di*ate, a. Etym: [L. radiatus, p. p.]

1. Having rays or parts diverging from a center; radiated; as, a radiate crystal.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: Having in a capitulum large ray florets which are unlike the disk florets, as in the aster, daisy, etc.

3. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Belonging to the Radiata.

RADIATE Ra"di*ate, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the Radiata.

RADIATED Ra"di*a`ted, a.

1. Emitted, or sent forth, in rays or direct lines; as, radiated heat.

2. Formed of, or arranged like, rays or radii; having parts or markings diverging, like radii, from a common center or axis; as, a radiated structure; a radiated group of crystals.

3. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Belonging to the Radiata.

RADIATELY Ra"di*ate*ly, adv.

Defn: In a radiate manner; with radiation or divergence from a center.

RADIATE-VEINED Ra"di*ate-veined`, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Having the principal veins radiating, or diverging, from the apex of the petiole; -- said of such leaves as those of the grapevine, most maples, and the castor-oil plant.

RADIATIFORM Ra`di*at"i*form, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Having the marginal florets enlarged and radiating but not ligulate, as in the capitula or heads of the cornflower, Gray.

RADIATION Ra`di*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. radiatio: cf. F. radiation.]

1. The act of radiating, or the state of being radiated; emission and diffusion of rays of light; beamy brightness.

2. The shooting forth of anything from a point or surface, like the diverging rays of light; as, the radiation of heat.

RADIATIVE Ra"di*a*tive, a.

Defn: Capable of radiating; acting by radiation. Tyndall.

RADIATOR Ra"di*a`tor, n.

Defn: That which radiates or emits rays, whether of light or heat; especially, that part of a heating apparatus from which the heat is radiated or diffused; as, a stream radiator.

RADICAL Rad"i*cal, a. Etym: [F., fr. L. radicalis having roots, fr. radix, - icis, a root. See Radix.]

1. Of or pertaining to the root; proceeding directly from the root.

2. Hence: Of or pertaining to the root or origin; reaching to the center, to the foundation to the ultimate sources to the principles, or the like: original; fundamental; thorough-going; unsparing; extreme; as, radical evils; radical reform; a radical party. The most determined exertions of that authority, against them, only showed their radical independence. Burke.

3. (Bot.) (a) Belonging to, or proceeding from, the root of a plant; as, radical tubers or hairs. (b) Proceeding from a rootlike stem, or one which does not rise above the ground; as, the radical leaves of the dandelion and the sidesaddle flower.

4. (Philol.)

Defn: Relating, or belonging, to the root, or ultimate source of derivation; as, a radical verbal form.

5. (Math.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to a radix or root; as, a radical quantity; a radical sign. See below. Radical axis of two circles. (Geom.) See under Axis. -- Radical pitch, the pitch or tone with which the utterance of a syllable begins. Rush. -- Radical quantity (Alg.), a quantity to which the radical sign is prefixed; specifically, a quantity which is not a perfect power of the degree indicated by the radical sign; a surd. -- Radical sign (Math.), the sign sq. root (originally the letter r, the initial of radix, root), placed before any quantity, denoting that its root is to be extracted; thus, sq. roota, or sq. root(a + b). To indicate any other than the square root, a corresponding figure is placed over the sign; thus cube roota, indicates the third or cube root of a. -- Radical stress (Elocution), force of utterance falling on the initial part of a syllable or sound. -- Radical vessels (Anat.), minute vessels which originate in the substance of the tissues.

Syn. -- Primitive; original; natural; underived; fundamental; entire. -- Radical, Entire. These words are frequently employed as interchangeable in describing some marked alternation in the condition of things. There is, however, an obvious difference between them. A radical cure, reform, etc., is one which goes to the root of the thing in question; and it is entire, in the sense that, by affecting the root, it affects in a appropriate degree the entire body nourished by the root; but it may not be entire in the sense of making a change complete in its nature, as well as in its extent. Hence, we speak of a radical change; a radical improvement; radical differences of opinion; while an entire change, an entire improvement, an entire difference of opinion, might indicate more than was actually intended. A certain change may be both radical and entire, in every sense.

RADICAL Rad"i*cal, n.

1. (Philol.) (a) A primitive word; a radix, root, or simple, underived, uncompounded word; an etymon. (b) A primitive letter; a letter that belongs to the radix. The words we at present make use of, and understand only by common agreement, assume a new air and life in the understanding, when you trace them to their radicals, where you find every word strongly stamped with nature; full of energy, meaning, character, painting, and poetry. Cleland.

2. (Politics)

Defn: One who advocates radical changes in government or social institutions, especially such changes as are intended to level class inequalities; -- opposed to conservative. In politics they [the Independents] were, to use phrase of their own time. "Root-and-Branch men," or, to use the kindred phrase of our own, Radicals. Macaulay.

3. (Chem.) (a) A characteristic, essential, and fundamental constituent of any compound; hence, sometimes, an atom. As a general rule, the metallic atoms are basic radicals, while the nonmetallic atoms are acid radicals. J. P. Cooke. (b) Specifically, a group of two or more atoms, not completely saturated, which are so linked that their union implies certain properties, and are conveniently regarded as playing the part of a single atom; a residue; -- called also a compound radical. Cf. Residue.

4. (Alg.)

Defn: A radical quantity. See under Radical, a. An indicated root of a perfect power of the degree indicated is not a radical but a rational quantity under a radical form. Davies & Peck (Math. Dict. )

5. (Anat.)

Defn: A radical vessel. See under Radical, a.

RADICALISM Rad"i*cal*ism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. radicalisme.]

Defn: The quality or state of being radical; specifically, the doctrines or principles of radicals in politics or social reform. Radicalism means root work; the uprooting of all falsehoods and abuses. F. W. Robertson.

RADICALITY Rad`i*cal"i*ty, n.

1. Germinal principle; source; origination. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

2. Radicalness; relation to root in essential to a root in essential nature or principle.

RADICALLY Rad"i*cal*ly, adv.

1. In a radical manner; at, or from, the origin or root; fundamentally; as, a scheme or system radically wrong or defective.

2. Without derivation; primitively; essentially. [R.] These great orbs thus radically bright. Prior.

RADICALNESS Rad"i*cal*ness, n.

Defn: Quality or state of being radical.

RADICANT Rad"i*cant, a. Etym: [L. radicans, p. pr.: cf. F. radicant. See Radicate, a.] (Bot.)

Defn: Taking root on, or above, the ground; rooting from the stem, as the trumpet creeper and the ivy.

RADICATE Rad"i*cate, a. Etym: [L. radicatus, p. p. of radicari to take root, fr. radix. See Radix.]

Defn: Radicated.

RADICATE Rad"i*cate, v. i.

Defn: To take root; to become rooted. Evelyn.

RADICATE Rad"i*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Radicated; p. pr. & vb. n. Radicating.]

Defn: To cause to take root; to plant deeply and firmly; to root. Time should . . . rather confirm and radicate in us the remembrance of God's goodness. Barrow.

RADICATED Rad"i*ca`ted, a.

Defn: Rooted; specifically: (a) (Bot.) Having roots, or possessing a well-developed root. (b) (Zoöl.) Having rootlike organs for attachment.

RADICATION Rad`i*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. radication.]

1. The process of taking root, or state of being rooted; as, the radication of habits.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: The disposition of the roots of a plant.

RADICEL Rad"i*cel, n. Etym: [Dim. of radix.] (Bot.)

Defn: A small branch of a root; a rootlet.

RADICIFLOROUS Ra*dic`i*flo"rous, a. Etym: [L. radix, -icis, root + flos, floris, a flower.] (Bot.)

Defn: Rhizanthous.

RADICIFORM Ra*dic"i*form, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Having the nature or appearance of a radix or root.

RADICLE Rad"i*cle, n. Etym: [L. radicula, dim. of radix, -icis, root: cf. F. radicule. See Radix.] (Bot.) (a) The rudimentary stem of a plant which supports the cotyledons in the seed, and from which the root is developed downward; the stem of the embryo; the caulicle. (b) A rootlet; a radicel.

RADICULAR Ra*dic"u*lar, a.

Defn: Of or performance to roots, or the root of a plant.

RADICULE Rad"i*cule, n.

Defn: A radicle.

RADICULOSE Ra*dic"u*lose`, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Producing numerous radicles, or rootlets.

RADII Ra"di*i, n.,

Defn: pl. of Radius.

RADIO- Ra"di*o-.

Defn: A combining form indicating connection with, or relation to, a radius or ray; specifically (Anat.), with the radius of the forearm; as, radio-ulnar, radiomuscular, radiocarpal.

RADIO-ACTIVE Ra`di*o-ac"tive, a. [Radio-+ active.] (Physics)

Defn: Capable of luminescence under the action of cathode rays, X rays, or any of the allied forms of radiation. -- Ra`di*o- ac*tiv"i*ty, n.

RADIOCONDUCTOR Ra`di*o*con*duc"tor, n. (Elec.)

Defn: A substance or device that has its conductivity altered in some way by electric waves, as a coherer.

RADIO-FLAGELLATA Ra`di*o-flag`el*la"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Radiate, and Flagellata.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A group of Protozoa having both flagella and pseudopodia.