Chapter CCCLXII: Prologue (13)

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

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

RAMBLER Ram"bler, n.

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

RAMBLING Ram"bling, a.

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

RAMBLINGLY Ram"bling*ly, adv.

Defn: In a rambling manner.

RAMBOOZE Ram"booze, n.

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

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

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

RAMEAL Ra"me*al, a.

Defn: Same as Ramal. Gray.

RAMEAN Ra"me*an, n.

Defn: A Ramist. Shipley.

RAMED Ramed, a.

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

RAMEE Ram"ee, n. (Bot.)

Defn: See Ramie.

RAMEKIN Ram"e*kin, n.

Defn: See Ramequin. [Obs.]

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

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

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

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

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

Defn: Covered with ramenta.

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

Defn: Ramal.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

4. The production of branchlike figures. Crabb.

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

Defn: Flowering on the branches.

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

Defn: Having the form of a branch.

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

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

RAMIFY Ram"i*fy, v. i.

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

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

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

Defn: Bearing branches; branched.

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

Defn: Producing branches; ramigerous.

RAMIST Ra"mist, n.

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

RAMLINE Ram"line, n.

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

RAMMEL Ram"mel, n.

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

RAMMER Ram"mer, n.

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

RAMMISH Ram"mish, a.

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

RAMMISHNESS Ram"mish*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being rammish.

RAMMY Ram"my, a.

Defn: Like a ram; rammish. Burton.

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

Defn: A softening or mollifying. [R.]

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

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

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

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

RAMOUS Ra"mous, a.

Defn: Ramose.

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

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

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

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

RAMP Ramp, n.

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

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

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

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

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

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

RAMPACIOUS Ram*pa"cious, a.

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

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

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

RAMPAGE Ramp"age, v. i.

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

RAMPAGEOUS Ram*pa"geous, a.

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

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

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

RAMPANCY Ramp"an*cy, n.

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

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

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

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

3. (Her.)

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

RAMPANTLY Ramp"ant*ly, adv.

Defn: In a rampant manner.

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

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

2. (Fort.)

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

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

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

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

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

Defn: The cuckoopint.

RAMPIER Ram"pier, n.

Defn: See Rampart. [Obs.]

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

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

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

RAMPIRE Ram"pire, n.

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

RAMPIRE Ram"pire, v. t.

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

RAMPLER Ram"pler, n.

Defn: A rambler.

RAMPLER Ram"pler, a.

Defn: Roving; rambling. [Scot.]

RAMROD Ram"rod`, n.

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

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

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

RAMSHACKLE Ram"shac*kle, v. t.

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

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

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

RAMSTED Ram"sted, n. (Bot.)

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

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

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

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

Defn: Having many small branches, or ramuli.

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

Defn: Ramulose.

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

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

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

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

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

Defn: A small ramus, or branch.

RAN Ran,

Defn: imp. of Run.

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

Defn: Open robbery. [Obs.] Lambarde.

RAN Ran, n. (Naut.)

Defn: Yarns coiled on a spun-yarn winch.

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

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

RANAL Ra"nal, a. (Bot.)

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

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

1. A prop or shore. [Scot.]

2. A round between the legs of a chair.

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

Defn: Becoming rancid or sour.

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

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

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

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

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

1. A dwelling place of a ranchero.

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

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

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

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

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

RANCHMAN Ranch"man, n.; pl. Ranchmen

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

RANCIDLY Ran"cid*ly, adv.

Defn: In a rancid manner.

RANCIDNESS Ran"cid*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being rancid.

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

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

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

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

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

RANCOROUSLY Ran"cor*ous*ly, adv.

Defn: In a rancorous manner.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

RANDAN Ran"dan, n.

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

RANDAN Ran"dan, n.

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

RANDING Rand"ing, n.

1. (Shoemaking)

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

2. (Mil.)

Defn: A kind of basket work used in gabions.

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

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

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

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

4. (Mining)

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

RANDOM Ran"dom, a.

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

RANDOMLY Ran"dom*ly, adv.

Defn: In a random manner.

RANDON Ran"don, n.

Defn: Random. [Obs.] Spenser.

RANDON Ran"don, v. i.

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

RANEDEER Rane"deer`, n.

Defn: See Reindeer. [Obs.]

RANEE Ra"nee, n.

Defn: Same as Rani.

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

Defn: See Reënforce. [Obs.] Bailey.

RANG Rang,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

7. (Biol.)

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

RANGE Range, v. i.

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

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

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

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

5. (Biol.)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

10. (Biol.)

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

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

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

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

13. (Naut.)

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

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

Defn: Arrangement. [Obs.] Waterland.

RANGER Ran"ger, n.

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

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

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

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

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

RANGERSHIP Ran"ger*ship, n.

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

RANGLE Ran"gle, v. i.

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

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

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

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

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

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

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the frogs and toads.

2. (Anat.)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

RANK Rank, adv.

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

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

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

2. (Mil.)

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

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

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

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

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

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

1. To place abreast, or in a line.

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

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

RANK Rank, v. i.

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

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

RANKER Rank"er, n.

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

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

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

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

RANKLE Ran"kle, v. t.

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

RANKLY Rank"ly, adv.

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

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

Defn: The condition or quality of being rank.

RANNEL Ran"nel, n.

Defn: A prostitute. [Obs.]

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

Defn: The erd shrew. [Scot.]

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

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

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

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

RANSACK Ran"sack, v. i.

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

RANSACK Ran"sack, n.

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

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

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

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

3. (O. Eng. Law)

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

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

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

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

RANSOMABLE Ran"som*a*ble, a.

Defn: Such as can be ransomed.

RANSOMER Ran"som*er, n.

Defn: One who ransoms or redeems.

RANSOMLESS Ran"som*less, a.

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

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

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

RANT Rant, n.

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

RANTER Rant"er, n.

1. A noisy talker; a raving declaimer.

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

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

Defn: The practice or tenets of the Ranters.

RANTINGLY Rant"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a ranting manner.

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

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

RANTIPOLE Rant"i*pole, a.

Defn: Wild; roving; rakish. [Low]

RANTIPOLE Rant"i*pole, v. i.

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

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

Defn: Ranterism.

RANTY Rant"y, a.

Defn: Wild; noisy; boisterous.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

RAP Rap, v. t.

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

2. (Founding)

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

RAP Rap, n.

Defn: A quick, smart blow; a knock.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Defn: Same as Accipitres.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

RAPAREE Rap`a*ree", n.

Defn: See Rapparee.

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

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

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

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

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

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

2. (Law)

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

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

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

RAPE Rape, v. t.

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

RAPE Rape, v. i.

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

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

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

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

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

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

RAPEFUL Rape"ful, a.

1. Violent. [Obs.]

2. Given to the commission of rape. Byron.

RAPFULLY Rap"ful*ly, adv.

Defn: Violently. [Obs.]

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

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

RAPHAELISM Raph"a*el*ism, n.

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

RAPHAELITE Raph"a*el*ite, n.

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

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

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

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

1. (Anat.)

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

2. (Bot.)

Defn: Same as Rhaph.

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

Defn: See Rhaphides.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

RAPIDLY Rap"id*ly, adv.

Defn: In a rapid manner.

RAPIDNESS Rap"id*ness, n.

Defn: Quality of being rapid; rapidity.

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

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

RAPIERED Ra"pi*ered, a.

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

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

Defn: Lapilli.

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

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

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

RAPINE Rap"ine, v. t.

Defn: To plunder. Sir G. Buck.

RAPINOUS Rap"i*nous, a.

Defn: Given to rapine. [Obs.]

RAPPAGE Rap"page, n. (Founding)

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

RAPPAREE Rap`pa*ree", n.

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

RAPPED Rapped (râpt),

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

RAPPED Rapped,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

RAPT Rapt,

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

RAPT Rapt, a.

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

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

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

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

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

RAPT Rapt, v. i.

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

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

RAPTER Rap"ter, n.

Defn: A raptor. [Obs.] Drayton.

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

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

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

Defn: Same as Accipitres. Called also Raptatores.

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

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

Defn: Raptorial.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

RAPTURIST Rap"tur*ist, n.

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

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

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

RAPTUROUS Rap"tur*ous, a.

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

RAPTUROUSLY Rap"tur*ous*ly, adv.

Defn: In a rapturous manner.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

RAREBIT Rare"bit, n.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Defn: Capable of being rarefied. Boyle.

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

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

RAREFY Rar"e*fy, v. i.

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

RARELY Rare"ly, adv.

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

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